Improvement of winter Safflower in rainfed condition for semi-cold areas of Iran.

Wide safflower adaptability to different conditions and high drought tolerance of this crop and in other side the need of crop rotation systeme in drylands of Iran leads to select the safflower as a suitable crop for drylands. The present project carried out to realease a new variety of safflower that well adapted to semi-cold rainfed regions which based on presence of egenetic variation in germplasm collection that collected by Dryland Agricultural Research sub-Institute (Sararood). This project included 7 trials in 6 years. In first year 268 genotypes evaluated and 64 genotypes selected. In second year 3 trials carried out on 64 selected genotypes. In the first trial 20 superior genotypes selected out of 64 genotypes. In second trial drought resistance parameters calculated for 64 genotypes and results showed that genotypes number 45, 53 and 62 were near to GMP, STI, MP and HAR that means they were drought tolerate with high yield potencial. In third trial 64 genotypes evaluated against diseases, results revealed that all of genotypes were resistant to Fusarium solani and Puccinia carthami under field conditions. 21 superior genotypes evaluated against leaf rust (Puccinia carthami) in glasshouse, results showed that 12 genotypes were resistance, 8 genotypes were tolerate, 2 were semisusceptible and one genotype was susceptible. In third year 19 advanced genotypes evaluated at 3 semi-cold locations and results showed that Kurdestan local, 386, 411, spinless no.2, 357/S6/697, 62, 27-N-825 were high seed and oil yielding genotypes under fall planting condition. In forth year 15 genotypes which selected from 19 genotypes were study for adaptability and seed yield stability during 2 years over 3 locations. the results of first year in 3 locations and second year in kermanshah showed that the genotypes 62, 44, 411 and 386 were the more stable genotypes. New released variety Sina (check) was also a stable and high seed yield variety over locations.