Evaluation of third cycle of half-sib recurrent selection using genetic male sterility in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract

Safflower is member of the composite, family Asteraceae. There are twenty five species in the genus. Out of which only Carthamus tinctorius L. 2n = 24 is cultivated and used for oil production, the rest are the wild species. Safflower contains 30% oil in Indian varieties. The oil constitutes 76 per cent of Linoleic acid (PUFA) which helps in reducing cholesterol level in human blood.