Genetic analysis of harvest index in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) via diallel crosses

The F1 and F2 progenies of the eight-parent diallel crosses were used to investigatethe mode of inheritance of harvest index (HI) (%) in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)seeds. The results indicated significant differences among the parents for general (GCA)in two evaluated generations. Specific combining ability (SCA) was significant in F1generation. Furthermore, the estimates of genetic variance components and predictabilityfactor (PF) proposed the more importance of additive genetic effects that contribute togenetic variation in harvest index. The overall results indicated that C4110 was the bestparental genotype for increasing HI (%). Also, superior crosses of K21× 22-191 (F1generation) and 22-191×C4110 (F2 generation) could be employed for the production ofhigh seed yielding safflower lines in breeding programs.