INHERITANCE OF SEED YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS IN SAFFLOWER

The parents, F1 and F2, from four crosses of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. and C. palaestinus Eig.) were studied to estimate heritability, gene action and mode of inheritance of head number, seed weight and seed yield. Low variances of nonsegregating populations suggested that environmental effects on seed weight were not strong and that variability was largely genetic; however, environmental effects were strong on head number and seed yield. Maternal effects were nonsignificant for all traits studied. The broad sense heritability estimates ranged from 4.4 to 16.7%, 21.7 to 81.8% and 66 to 85.5% for head number, seed yield and seed weight, respectively. In all F2's, a continuous distribution was observed, suggesting multiple factor inheritance for head number, seed weight and seed yield. Mathers and Jinks' three parameter model indicated that epistasis was not important for head number and seed yield; however, epistasis was important for seed weight. Flower color and anthocyanin pigmentation of cotyledonary midvein were inherited independently. Anthocyanin pigmentation was associated with head number, seed yield and seed weight; however, striped hull and flower color were not associated with head number, seed yield or seed weight. There was a significant positive correlation between seed yield and head number.