Evaluation of the Ornamental Potential of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Aims: To evaluate the ornamental potential of two safflower genotypes (Carthamus tinctorius L.): ICA 73, ICA 193, grown under protected environment.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agronomy of Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, between March and May 2017.

Methodology: The methodology addressed evaluated the performance of the two genotypes, through three experiments. The first experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, being evaluated: plant height; stem diameter; leaf dentin; spinescent margin of the leaves; number of branches; number of flower buds; spinescent margin of the bracts; flowering, and flower production. The second one was conducted in a randomized complete block design in a factorial scheme, and the following variables were evaluated: plant height; stem diameter; number of branches; number of flower buds; and flower production. Finally, the third experiment used a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme and evaluated the variables: Number of flowers; number of flower buds and post-harvest durability. The analysis of variance was performed using the F test at 5% of probability and, afterwards, the regression or comparison analysis of averages by the Tukey test at 5% of probability.

Results: The ICA 73 access showed plants with high flower production and the ICA 193 exhibited plants with weak or moderate spinescent margin of the leaves and bracts, besides good uniformity of the anthesis of the flowers.

Conclusion: Both accesses showed ornamental potential, demonstrating precocity, beauty and durability of the flowers. The density of one plant was the most favorable for pot plant and cut flower. The semi-open flowers harvest point was the best for maintaining the stem quality.