Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius L. - Bioversity International

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46 Safflower. Carthamus tinctorius L. number of breeding materials of practical interest are being generated around the world every year, there is no global system for testing the finished products from the breeding programmes under a wide range of agro-ecological conditions for their adaptability and reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses. Documentation of available genetic resources in safflower should be undertaken. The Directorate of Oilseeds Research (DOR), Hyderabad, India would facilitate this. 5.2.3 Agroproduction (Discussant: Dr V. Ranga Rao) Priority areas of research were identified: the economics of safflower compared with other crops, identification of specific niches for safflower culture, the potential for safflower and its agronomy in sequential and intercropping systems, and efficient use of fertilizers. 5.2.4 Agroprotection (Discussant: Dr H.-H. Mündel) Globally, most safflower is produced under low-input conditions and therefore the major focus in plant protection should be the development of varieties with resistance to the major diseases. International screening nurseries should be established in ‘hot spots’ to identify and catalogue materials tolerant and resistant to major biotic constraints. The germplasm base should be enhanced through emphasis on wild species. A handbook of safflower diseases and pests with their diagnostic characteristics is needed. 5.2.5 Marketing, processing, utilization, product development, food chemistry and nutrition (Discussant: Dr B. Narsing Rao) Seeds should be stored whole rather than as decorticated kernels. Mechanical removal of hulls raises oil yields and lowers fibre in meal. The conditions affecting the extent of aflatoxin as a problem in storage of safflower should be studied. High relative humidities (>70%) favour the development of aflatoxins and reduce oil content. Debittering seed (with 80% ethanol and isopropanol) can improve feed and food value; a snack food can be made from treated kernels. The use of carthamin yellow as a vegetable food colour in place of synthetic dyes should be studied. China has taken the lead in this field. Safflower oil, with high linoleic acid content, can be blended with other vegetable oils to nutritionally upgrade them. 5.2.6 Major constraints, future research and developmental needs (Discussant: Dr P.F. Knowles) The principal constraints and research and developmental needs of the safflowergrowing areas of the world represented at the conference are presented. 5.2.6.1 Constraints ● Low per-hectare yields associated with low harvest index and low seed-oil contents (India, Turkey, Morocco).
Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 7. ● High susceptibility of available commercial cultivars to foliar diseases (Alternaria, Ramularia, Puccinia), root rots (Macrophomina), wilts (Fusarium, Verticillium); aphids (India), abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, alkalinity), high thermosensitivity and daylength sensitivity, long rosette stage. ● Presence of spines. ● Lack of region-specific agroproduction technologies (e.g. in African countries) to harness the full potential of safflower; absence of information on potential production niches. ● Lack of assured market and price support; absence of demand for safflower seed and oil in nontraditional areas. ● Falling public research support to safflower (major reductions in USA, Australia). The small breeding programme in Canada is also being phased out. ● Absence of processing facilities within reasonable distances of production cen- tres. 5.2.6.2 Priorities and developmental needs ● Intensification of research for the identification of sources resistant to major biotic and abiotic stresses. ● Development of high-yielding varieties and hybrids with high seed-oil content and built-in tolerance to diseases and insect pests. ● Breeding for less thermosensitivity and daylength sensitivity, high-yielding and early maturing varieties. ● Refinement of agroproduction and agroprotection technologies for maximizing yields and returns under diverse agro-ecological situations. ● Breeding for higher yielding spineless varieties suited to nontraditional areas. ● Intensification of research to identify new cropping niches for safflower. ● Development of appropriate seed-processing technologies. ● Search for viable cytoplasmic male sterility systems for the production of hybrids. ● Training of research personnel in breeding techniques, identification and management of diseases. 5.3 North American Safflower Conference, Great Falls, Montana, USA, 1996 This conference was organized by the Alberta Safflower Growers Association (ASGA) to bring together researchers, extension personnel, marketers, processors and growers of safflower. After formal presentations, four round-table discussion groups identified top research areas. The priorities are listed in decreasing rank. 5.3.1 Weed control Registration of available pesticides; chemistry for post-emergence weed control; 47
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Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius L. - Bioversity International

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