Genetic Variability and Character Association Studies in Trait Specific Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Germplasm Lines

Sixty one safflower trait specific germplasm were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) at ICAR- IIOR, during rabi 2023-24 to determine the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance, character association and path analysis studies for twelve quantitative traits. Analysis of variance showed that significant variation was present in the genotypes studied for all the traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was found to be higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits. High level of Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was recorded for seed yield per plant, number of seeds per primary capitula. Heritability was high for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, no.of capitula per plant, capitula diameter, no. of seeds per primary capitula,1000 seed weight, plant dry weight , seed yield, harvesting index, oil content. Genetic advance (GA) (% mean) was high for all the traits except for days to maturity. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for days for flowering, plant height, no.of capitula per plant, capitula diameter,1000 seed weight, plant dry weight, seed yield, harvesting index, oil content. The character's productive branches per plant, no.of capitula per plant, 1000 seed weight, plant dry weight, harvesting index showed a positive significant correlation with the total yield. The path coefficient analysis indicates that the utmost positive direct effect on total yield was plant dry weight. Hence, it was concluded that selection for traits The plant dry weight, harvesting index, oil content, days to maturity, no. of capitula per plant, no.of seeds per primary capitula, 1000 seed weight and capitula diameter beneficial in yield improvement programs of safflower.