Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Pratibha, Ankit Yadav and Rajeev Shrivastava

Abstract:
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a versatile, herbaceous, annual thistle-like oilseed crop with lots of health benefits. Its seed oil is used for preventing various heart diseases and lowering the cholesterol level in blood. Safflower oil is richest in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). In the present study, nine qualitative contrasting parents were taken in consideration. These parents were RSS 2016-7, RVS 12-13, A-1, EC-755686, EC-755665, EC-755664, NARI-121, NARI-120 and NARI-119. The traits observed during the study were shape of capitulum, petal colour, faded petal colour, type of bracts and colour of stigma. Ten F₁’s i.e RSS 2016-7 x RVS12-13, RSS 2016-7 x NARI-121, A-1 x EC-755686, A-1 x EC- 755665, A-1 x EC-755664, A-1 x NARI-121, A-1 x NARI-120, EC- 755686 x RVS 12-13, EC- 755686 x A-1, EC- 755686 x NARI- 119 were generated from crossing these nine parents. Observations were taken for various qualitative traits from parents and F₁ generation. In F₂ generation pattern of segregation was observed and were analyzed using chi-square test. Further, test of independence for detection of linkage as suggested by Panse and Sukhatme (1967)^[10] was calculated and linkage distance was estimated in terms of cross over value between two genes as suggested by the Minimum discrepancy method given by Haldane (1953) ^[4] as described by Murty (1954) ^[8]. A proper study of linkage present among these traits helps plant breeders for various crop improvement programmes.