Everything about the safflower plant

Saffron with the scientific name Carthamus tinctorius is an annual plant with a height of about 60 cm. This plant is slightly prickly and has wide, serrated leaves without petioles. In the lower part of the leaf, the veins are visible and prominent. The flowers of this plant are similar to thistle and are single, tubular and reddish yellow, which appear at the end of the stem. The safflower fruit is of the same type as sunflower. The skin of the fruit is transparent and cream-white in color.

Safflower is a plant resistant to cold, heat and drought, which can withstand maximum temperatures of about 40 degrees Celsius if there is enough moisture in the soil. This plant is also sensitive to water stagnation and lack of ventilation, and it becomes sensitive to cold when it transitions from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage.

Based on the available studies, different safflower species have been divided into four groups based on the number of chromosomes:

The species of the first to fourth group have 12, 10, 22 and 32 pairs of chromosomes, respectively. The cultivated safflower species Carthamus tinctorius L. together with two species C.palaestinus and C.oxyacantha are in the first group. All three species have 12 pairs of chromosomes (24-x2-n2) and are one stem and can be crossed with each other. The country is cultivated, species C.oxyacantha M.B. and C.glaucus M.B and C.lanatus L. are also found. The species C.oxyacantha M.B. has been introduced as the ancestor of cultivated saffron.

Sowing time, cultivar type, planting depth, soil structure and the amount of fertilizer used and the climate of the region affect the amount of seeds and the appropriate density in safflower cultivation. 25-30 kg per hectare, the suitable distance between planting lines is 30 to 45 cm and the best distance between plants is 5 cm. In autumn cultivars, the distance between rows is usually 50 cm, the distance between plants is 5 cm, and the amount of seed used is 20-25 kg. It is better to plant safflower more than once in four consecutive years. Do not plant in one piece of land. Because this plant is sensitive to soil-borne diseases and is alternated with plants sensitive to the disease of Jaleez plant rot. Clover, corn, safflower, wheat, alfalfa, potatoes, legumes, safflower, barley are examples of safflower rotation in spring planting.

The height of the plant, the number of sub-branches and the number of seeds in the boll are important factors affecting the amount of flower production. Safflower florets can be harvested three days after the beginning of flowering until the end of flowering, while harvesting florets does not have a negative effect on seed yield. To preserve the color and quality of the color, the harvested flowers should not be dried in the sun but should be dried in the shade.

Environmental factors such as air temperature and relative humidity affect the time of harvesting safflower seeds. You can start harvesting the seeds after the leaves dry and turn brown, the middle seeds dry and harden. At the time of harvest, the moisture content of the seeds should be around 8% because drying the plant too much will cause the seeds to fall during the harvest.