Determination of yield and yield components in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars under Menemen-Izmir ecological conditions

The main objective of the study was to determine suitable safflower cultivars in Menemen – Izmir ecological conditions. The experiments were conducted in 2014 - 2015 growing season on the farmer field in Menemen- Izmir. The experiments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Research materials were Balcı, Dinçer, Linas, Olas and Remzibey-05 sufflower registered cultivars. Observations were made on seed yield (kg/da), oil yield (kg/da), 1000 seed weight, seed oil content, plant height (cm), head diameter (cm), husk percentage (%), days to flowering date (days) and days to physiological maturity (days), and Number of branch. According to the results of the study, statistically significant differences were found all traits except thousand seed weight among the varieties in Menemen – Izmir (Turkey) conditions. In conclusion; plant height: 86.3-103.3 cm, branch number: 4.8-8.2, number of head: 13.38-25.71, head diameter: 1.80-2.30 cm, days to flowering: 196.30-199.80 day, days to physiological maturity 216-220 day, grain yield: 156-250 kg/da, 1000 seed weight: 42.80-54.10 g, husk percentage: 41.87-50.29 %, oil percentage: 25.35-35.03 %, and oil yield: 492.1-872.5 kg.haˉˡ ranged. Research results indicated that Olas with its high seed yield, high oil content, oil yield and earliness were found to be promising sufflower cultivar for Menemen, Izmir. Key words: Sufflower, Carthamus tinctorius L., yield, oil percentage, cultivar