Photosynthetic characteristics in wild, cultivated species and interspecific inbred lines of safflower

Abstract

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a multipurpose oilseed crop is the only cultivated species in the Carthamus genus. Carthamus spp. have been explored for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses but not for physiological efficiency. Photosynthetic traits of ten wild and ten cultivated species and six interspecific inbred lines were studied to understand the expression of the photosynthetic traits among them, and for trait introgression from wild species in interspecific derivatives. Relations among some physiological traits in interspecific inbred lines differed from those observed in wild and cultivated species. The high photosynthesis (Pn), low transpiration (E) and high intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) could be introgressed from the wild species, C. lanatus and C. turkesthanicus into safflower cultivars. Inheritance of photosynthetic traits from wild to cultivated species indicated that wild species are exploitable for safflower improvement. This study suggests the utilization of wild species for their high Pn, low E and iWUE characteristics for developing abiotic stress-tolerant safflower cultivars.