Selection study on promising pelemir (cephalaria syriaca) genotypes in Ankara ecological condi̇tions

In this study, within the scope of the TUBITAK 1001/120R015 project, 16 promising genotypes of pelemir (Cephalaria syriaca L.) selected from 70 genotypes collected from 70 different locations across Turkey, along with the standard cultivar "Karahan" used as a control, were evaluated under the ecological conditions in Ankara, Muş and Bolu. The research was conducted during the 2023–2024 vegetation period using a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Field Crops Research Institute, İkizce Research and Application Farm. The aim of the study was to compare the genotypes based on plant height, first branch height, number of lateral branches, number of capitula, thousand seed weight, seed yield per decare, oil content, oil yield, protein content, protein yield, and fatty acid composition, in order to identify superior genotypes in terms of yield and yield components. In the study, plant height ranged from 75.30 to 108.87 cm, first branch height from 33.60 to 46.87 cm, number of lateral branches from 7.27 to 10.27, number of capitula from 36.87 to 82.93, thousand seed weight from 11.16 to 15.60 g, seed yield per decare from 74.21 to 255.56 kg/da, oil content from 16.04% to 23.72%, oil yield from 16.67 to 56.01 kg/da, protein content from 22.18% to 26.41%, and protein yield from 16.92 to 58.03 kg/da. As a result, it is recommended that the 126 and A50 genotypes be recorded and included in breeding programs and evaluated in adaptation trials to be carried out in different locations in the future.