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Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a multipurpose crop and can be grown successfully under moisture-deficit environments. This study assessed the physiological attributes and yield-related traits of two safflower varieties (Dinçer and Balcı) under rainfed and irrigated environments during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Data relating to physiological and yield-related traits, and soil enzymes were collected. Soil attributes, nutrient acquisition, and yield-related traits were significantly altered by the interactive effect of varieties and growing environments. Higher nitrate (NO3-) accumulation (279.92 and 300 mg N g DW) was recorded in Balcı variety than Dinçer under rainfed conditions. Higher grain yield was recorded under irrigated conditions compared to rainfed environments. Balcı variety produced 2724 and 2464 kg/ha grain yield, whereas Dinçer resulted in 2664 and 2565 kg/ha under irrigated conditions during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Nevertheless, Balcı produced a higher yield than Dinçer under rainfed conditions. The results indicate that irrigation is crucial for safflower in arid and semi-arid regions. Similarly, Dinçer variety is advantageous under rainfed conditions, whereas the Balcı variety may be more beneficial in irrigated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important comorbidities of diabetic patients, which places large physiological and economic burdens on patients. Safflower yellow, a natural pigment extracted from the petals of safflower, has been put into adjuvant therapy. Databases including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, MEDLINE and etc. will be searched for relevant articles. A meta-analysis was carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of safflower yellow adjuvant to conventional treatment regimen using mean differences (MD) and rate ratios (RR). A cost-effectiveness analysis was also conducted based on the result of meta-analysis. Finally, 28 articles involving 2251 patients were included in meta-analysis. The results showed that compared with conventional treatment, the fasting blood-glucose (FBG) [MD = 0.40], urinary albumin ejection rate (UAER) within 24 h [MD = 48.16], serum creatinine (Scr) [MD = 9.63], blood urea nitrogen (BUN) [MD = 1.73] were significantly lower and the clinical efficacy [RR = 1.28] was more remarkable in safflower yellow adjuvant to conventional treatment group. Our analysis suggested that safflower yellow adjuvant to conventional treatment regimen not only had better clinical efficacy but more cost-effective than conventional treatment regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the increase in market requests for bio-products, it is necessary to study the possibility of cultivating industrial crops in areas still untapped to extend the total cultivation surface, reducing land competition with food crops. With this aim in mind, we studied the harvesting performance and cost, and seed losses of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivation during two growing seasons and in three different locations: (A) an agroforestry field, (B) a marginal field and (C) a dedicated field utilized as a control. The overall efficiency of the cultivation system was higher in location C in respect to the other two fields. The yield was 12–22% and 21–26% higher in location C compared to locations B and A, respectively, while seed losses were 40–33% and 28–50% lower in C compared to locations A and B, as well as the total harvesting costs, which were 45% and 31–35% lower in location C compared to locations A and B, respectively. Despite this, the results highlighted how the reduction in cultivation efficiency given by limiting factors was lower compared to that of other crops, highlighting the possibility of cultivating Safflower for bio-products' production on alternative lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oilseed plants are a valuable group of foods in human nutrition. Uncommon oilseed plants, such as safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), camelina (Camelina sativa L.), and black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), have been gaining increasing attention. The unique chemical compositions of these plants, which contribute to potential health benefits, underscore the importance of further exploration and study. The continuation of development of research in this field, resulting in the well-documented positive impact of these plants on human health, may lead to the possibility of them becoming new functional foods in the future. This review aims to present the potential health-promoting properties of the aforementioned uncommon oilseed plants based on recent literature reports and intends to inspire further exploration of their unique features. Among others, recent reports on the anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial potential, as well as the preventive potential in the case of metabolic diseases of these plants, were discussed. The importance of further development of these problems was also emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research and development of green techniques for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with bioactive plants has gained more attention against toxic chemicals. In this research, the aqueous solution of safflower extract was utilized for the simple, green, and commercial synthesis of AgNPs from AgNO3 solution on the wool yarn. The effect of the amount of extract and AgNO3 on the properties of produced nanoparticles was studied. The analysis of AgNPs by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) system and Ultravioletvisible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy exhibited that the particle size of produced NPs was <57 nm. In addition, the colorimetric data of wool yarn dyed with safflower extract in the presence of different concentrations of AgNO3 solution were also studied. The results showed that the presence of nanoparticles changed the color hue (hᵒ: 86→58), and the absorption of safflower extract on the wool samples increased from 5 to 29. Also, the ratings of washing and rubbing fastness of dyed samples were satisfactory (4-5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes, a global health concern, poses increasing mortality risks. The pathogenesis of diabetes involves multiple mechanisms, with oxidative stress being one of the key contributors. As synthetic drugs have various side effects, which can be minimized by using herbal plants. This study focuses on the In vitro antioxidant potential, α-amylase inhibition potential, identification of bioactive compounds, and hub genes in diabetes treatment mechanism by using C. tinctorius Extraction of C. tinctorious lead and flower was performed using different solvents (Distilled water, methanol, chloroform, and Dimethyl ether). After extraction different concentrations range from 25–200 mg/mL) was made and checked against activities. The antioxidant potential was assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic contents (TPC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays, while antidiabetic activity was evaluated through α-amylase inhibition assay. Phytochemicals was identified by GC–MS analysis, followed by ADMET screening and network pharmacology analysis using Swiss Target Prediction, Gene Card, DesGeNet, DAVID, STRING, Cytoscape, and drug revitalization databases. Results revealed positive correlations with DPPH, TAC, and TPC. Methanol extract exhibited the highest inhibitory concentration. Screening of 46 compounds was performed by studying their pharmacokinetic properties which revealed 9 compounds effective against 204 diabetes targets. Moreover, their network analysis identified four hub genes, including AKT1, JUN, EGFR, and MMP9. These genes found highly associated with drugs like Colchicine and Serotobenine. Revitalization analysis also highlighted four genes (EGFR, PTGS2, AKT1, and MMP9) strongly correlated with FDA-approved drugs. The study suggests C. tinctorius methanol extract is a potential source for novel drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding methods, which may alleviate drought stress on the growth and biochemical properties of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), as one of the important medicinal plants, is of significance. The objective was to alleviate drought stress on seed germination, seedling growth, and biochemical properties of different genotypes of safflower using 24-epibrassinosteroid (EBR). The experiments, conducted in the greenhouse in 2014 and 2015, were factorial on the basis of a complete randomized block design with three replicates. Drought stress (85 (S1), 65 (S2) and 45% (S3) of field capacity), genotype (Goldasht, Faraman and Sina), and the foliar application of 24-epibrassinosteroid (EBR) (0 and 10−7 M) were tested. Seed germination indices, seedling growth and biochemical properties were determined. The results indicated the significant effects of drought stress on the measured parameters including seed germination, which was the most sensitive stage. The use of EBR significantly increased seed germination and seedling growth, nutrient uptake and grain protein and oil contents, at different levels of stress. EBR significantly enhanced grain N (7.3%) and P (0.5%) uptake, as well as protein percentage (38.7%), even at the highest level of stress (S3), to the levels which were comparable with S1 and S2. The use of EBR may improve seed germination and the growth of safflower seedlings under drought stress conditions by affecting the physiological properties, mainly related to the mechanisms of protein production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower is a climate-resilient, quality oilseed with high resistance to water scarcity, soil salinity, and frost-prone areas, and it has a wide range of applications in daily life, ranging from food to pharmaceutical to industrial. Adapting high-quality oil-content-producing safflower cultivars can help reduce costs and reduce precious foreign exchange in countries like Pakistan. Exotic germplasm imported from the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), consisting of 145 exotic safflower accessions and four local control cultivars were planted under semi-arid conditions in Faisalabad, Pakistan, during winter 2018-19 and 2019-20 season using an augmented design with unreplicated entries and replicated checks. Genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) analysis revealed significant variation among the accessions of safflower for achene yield plant-1, heads plant-1, and branches plant-1. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant but negative correlation between days to maturity and days to 50% flowering. The results revealed larger achene yields and earlier maturity in safflower planted in early winter. Biplot analysis found that five of the tested accessions had higher achene yield plant-1, while four of the other accessions had a higher percentage of oil than the control, which was the local safflower check-31, which had the highest oil content and best quality traits. Furthermore, the dendrogram revealed that four safflower accessions exhibited higher morphological uniqueness across the investigated traits during both years of study, which can be employed for future varietal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the hepatic and anti-steatotic protective effects of methanolic extract from Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) flowers (SFFE), using a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Adult male Wistar rats were used for this study. First, T2DM was induced in some rats by feeding them a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks, followed by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg, i.p.). Experimental groups included the following five groups (n = 8 in each): control, control + SFFE, T2DM, T2DM + SFFE, and T2DM + SFFE + brusatol (an Nrf2 inhibitor, 2 mg/kg, i.p.). SFFE was administered at a concentration of 300 mg/kg, and all experiments concluded after 8 weeks. Treatments with SFFE significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels, free fatty acids (FFAs), cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both the control and T2DM rats, but they failed to reduce fasting insulin levels in these groups. SFFE treatments also improved the liver structure and reduced hepatocyte vacuolization and hepatic levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in T2DM rats, in addition to increasing the hepatic mRNA levels of keap1 and the cytoplasmic levels and nuclear activities of Nrf2 in both the control and T2DM rats. SFFE also stimulated the expression levels of PPARα and CPT-1 but reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA), mRNA levels of SREBP1, fatty acid synthase, and acetyl CoA carboxylase in both the control and T2DM rats; meanwhile, it reduced hepatic mRNA and the nuclear activities of NF-κB and increased levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and heme oxygenase-1 in the livers of both groups of treated rats. Furthermore, SFFE suppressed the levels of caspase-3, Bax, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 in the T2DM rats. Treatment with brusatol prevented all of these effects of SFFE. In conclusion, SFFE suppresses liver damage and hepatic steatosis in T2DM through Nrf2-dependent hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids constitute a significant cohort of herbivorous insects, primarily nourishing themselves by extracting plant sap, sometimes posing a notable threat to plant health. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation into the aphid fauna associated with Carthamus in Iran, unveiling 18 species across 11 genera within the Aphididae. Furthermore, 31 associations between aphid species and host plants were recognized, of which two are new for Iran. Our study expands upon prior knowledge by documenting three new occurrences, shedding light on previously unrecorded aphid species in Isfahan and Razavi Khorasan provinces. In addition, we describe the previously unknown male of Uroleucon carthami, offering insights into its life cycle and reproductive strategies. An identification key to the apterous viviparous female aphids living on Carthamus in Iran is provided.

This present scientific research was conducted in the Qlyasan, which is located in the governorate of Sulaimani in the northeast of Iraq.The experimentation was conducted over two distinct growing seasons.; Winter of 2022-2023 and Spring of 2023, this study aimed to assess the outcome of planting dates on growth, yield, and oil content of different varieties of safflower. The experimental setup followed a (CRBD) design, with three replicates employed during the winter season, for robustness and reliability. the sowing dates were (December 1st, December 15th, and December 31st). while in the spring season, three sowing dates (April 1st, April 15th, and May 1st). Three varieties namely (Gilla, Iden, and Al-Shamia) were planted. The characteristics studied in this research included the height of the plants, No.of primary branches/plant, No.of heads /plant, No.of seeds/head, 1000-seed weight, seed yield (kg ha-1), and content of oil (%). The results indicated that variation in sowing dates had a significant impact on all traits of safflower varieties. The highest seed yield was observed from (December 1st and April 1st) sowing dates (1831.77,1562.22 kg ha-1) during seasons individually, and the lowest seed yield was recorded for the latest sowing dates (December 31st and May 1st). The highest oil content was reached (30.15 and 27.18%) obtained by sowing on December 31st, and April 1st respectively. The Gilla variety surpassed and outperformed in seed yield (2610.50 and 2302.33 kg ha-1) in both seasons respectively, and the AL-Shamia variety produced the highest oil percentage in both seasons at (30.15,23.39%).

Biodiesel production represents a great opportunity to reduce marine and land pollution while incorporating circular economy principles into modern society. The objective of this research is to use the response surface methodology to evaluate the best engine performance and emission characteristics of safflower-based biodiesel and diesel mix dual-fuel Compression ignition engines. The optimization aims to increase brake power, and brake thermal efficiency, and reduce brake-specific fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The independent input variables were biodiesel blending ratio, compression ratio, and engine load. The novelty of this study is to optimize the operating parameters of a dual-fuel compression ignition engine fueled with safflower biodiesel and diesel blend fraction. A total of 48 experimental trials were conducted. The oil output from safflower seed in the lab and the biodiesel yield obtained were 26% and 91%, respectively. RSM results predict the optimized magnitude of the biodiesel blending ratio, CR, and EL are B16.66, 16.68, and 12 kg, respectively. The optimal values for dependent parameters, that is, BP, BTE, BSFC, CO, UHC, CO2, and NO were 3.27 kW, 19.60%, 3.30 kg/kWh, 0.0006 (% vol.), 0.8 (ppm), 0.78 (% vol.), and 140.87 ppm, respectively. The cumulative composite desirability was found to be 0.5877. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower, a semiarid crop, contains a healthy oil with high unsaturated fatty acids. Genetically diverse accessions are important for genetic maintenance of safflower and breeding proposes. The objectives of present investigation were to evaluate the morphological variation of 100 safflower accessions across two years (2022 and 2023), to explore similar genotypic groups and to identify the higher contribution of traits with to the observed variability. The highest coefficient of variation (CV) was observed for seeds per secondary capitulum, number of capitula per plant and weight of lateral capitulum in the first year and the highest CV values were observed for number of capitula per plant and capitula per lateral branch in the second year. The factor analysis identified five factors in the first year and six factors in the second as yield components, height, seed yield, capitulum diameter and phonology while number of branches was identified as the extra factor in the second year. Results showed that the variation of morphologic traits was made up of from the most measured traits of safflower. We defined seven distinct clusters, which made it possible to differentiate safflower accessions based on measured traits across two years. Of 45 accessions were grouped in similar clusters across two years, without any or similar genotype by environment interaction. Some high yielding accessions like C-47 and Lesaf-175 can be entered directly in multi-environmental trials for cultivar release proposes. The recognized variation improves as a good resource, indicating an important issue for future projects for safflower germplasm maintenance and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Safflower is an oilseed crop capable of forming seeds in extreme conditions, so it can be used as an alternative to sunflower, because their growing technologies are similar. Increasing the yield of safflower seeds can be achieved intensively using agrochemicals. The proposed research results provide information on the use of mineral, micro fertilizers and growth regulators. Methods: Research was carried out in the dry steppe zone of chestnut soils. In the spirit-factor experiment, which was located on a field with an area of 300 m², in triplicate, using two sorts of safflower. Mineral fertilizers were applied to the soil during sowing and by foliar treatment during the "budding" phase. The obtained yield results were processed by analysis of variance. Result: As a result of the research, elite safflower seeds were obtained using one of the experimental options Ultamag Bor 30 g + Biostim Growth 30 g/10 liters of water of the Alexandrite variety with a yield of 1.8 t/ha with the highest profitability of their production of 414.2%. Analysis of variance of the yield data from the experiment showed that 87% of the yield of safflower seeds depended on the use of mineral fertilizers, 0.62% on the plant variety and agro technical measures for growing safflower plants-11.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second biggest aging-related condition worldwide. Dementia, cognitive impairment, and motor impairment are the results of a gradual degeneration of neurons that produce dopamine in the substantia nigra pars compacta and other areas of the brain. The sole goals of current therapeutic approaches, such L-dopa medication, are to reduce symptoms and slow the disease's development. Since PD currently has no known treatment, prevention is more crucial than ever. Numerous significant risk factors have been identified by more than ten years of research, including mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The majority of current pharmaceutical treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD), the most prevalent neurological movement disorder in the world, focus on symptom relief and are frequently accompanied with unfavorable side effects during extended use. In spite of this, they continue to be the primary PD treatment because there aren't any better options. Many natural remedies derived from fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants can be used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). Apart from their widely recognized anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, these organic compounds also function as inhibitors in processes related to iron accumulation, protein misfolding, proteasomal breakdown maintenance, mitochondrial homeostasis, and various other neuroprotective mechanisms. The development of nutraceuticals— compounds obtained from whole food sources with potential therapeutic uses—has made it possible to employ several approaches to treat neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson's disease. Notably, because nutraceuticals are naturally produced chemicals and may thus have less adverse effects, they are able to market themselves as a "safer" approach. We will examine a few of the significant efforts that have been made to better understand the function of nutraceuticals in Parkinson's disease (PD) in this review. In general, these substances work by modifying signaling pathways, preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and controlling mitochondrial homoeostasis. Crucially, we will describe how the active ingredient in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, activates AMP kinase to give neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease (PD) and explain how its positive effects may be attributed to improving mitochondrial excellence of quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicinal plant, safflower, shows effective for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study is aimed at exploring the potential molecular mechanisms of safflower in the treatment of PAH. Methods: Network pharmacology approach and molecular docking were applied to identify the core active compounds, therapeutic targets, and potential signaling pathways of safflower against PAH. Meanwhile, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was performed to determine the core compounds from safflower. Further, the mechanism of action of safflower on PAH was verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results: A total of 15 active compounds and 177 targets were screened from safflower against PAH. Enrichment analysis indicated that these therapeutic targets were mainly involved in multiple key pathways, such as TNF signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation. Notably, molecular docking revealed that quercetin (core compound in safflower) displayed highest binding capacity with NLRP3. In vivo, safflower exerted therapeutic effects on PAH by inhibiting right ventricular hypertrophy, inflammatory factor release, and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Mechanistically, it significantly reduced the expression of proangiogenesis‐related factors (MMP‐2, MMP‐9, Collagen 1, and Collagen 3) and NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase‐1) in PAH model. Similarly, these results were observed in vitro. Besides, we further confirmed that NLRP3 inhibitor had the same therapeutic effect as safflower in vitro. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that safflower mitigates PAH primarily by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This provides novel insights into the potential use of safflower as an alternative therapeutic approach for PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of safflower filament targets and the precise localization of picking points are fundamental prerequisites for achieving automated filament retrieval. In light of challenges such as severe occlusion of targets, low recognition accuracy, and the considerable size of models in unstructured environments, this paper introduces a novel lightweight YOLO-SaFi model. The architectural design of this model features a Backbone layer incorporating the StarNet network; a Neck layer introducing a novel ELC convolution module to refine the C2f module; and a Head layer implementing a new lightweight shared convolution detection head, Detect_EL. Furthermore, the loss function is enhanced by upgrading CIoU to PIoUv2. These enhancements significantly augment the model's capability to perceive spatial information and facilitate multi-feature fusion, consequently enhancing detection performance and rendering the model more lightweight. Performance evaluations conducted via comparative experiments with the baseline model reveal that YOLO-SaFi achieved a reduction of parameters, computational load, and weight files by 50.0%, 40.7%, and 48.2%, respectively, compared to the YOLOv8 baseline model. Moreover, YOLO-SaFi demonstrated improvements in recall, mean average precision, and detection speed by 1.9%, 0.3%, and 88.4 frames per second, respectively. Finally, the deployment of the YOLO-SaFi model on the Jetson Orin Nano device corroborates the superior performance of the enhanced model, thereby establishing a robust visual detection framework for the advancement of intelligent safflower filament retrieval robots in unstructured environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids constitute a significant cohort of herbivorous insects, primarily nourishing themselves by extracting plant sap, sometimes posing a notable threat to plant health. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation into the aphid fauna associated with Carthamus in Iran, unveiling 18 species across 11 genera within the Aphididae. Furthermore, 31 associations between aphid species and host plants were recognized, of which two are new for Iran. Our study expands upon prior knowledge by documenting three new occurrences, shedding light on previously unrecorded aphid species in Isfahan and Razavi Khorasan provinces. In addition, we describe the previously unknown male of Uroleucon carthami, offering insights into its life cycle and reproductive strategies. An identification key to the apterous viviparous female aphids living on Carthamus in Iran is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower is a traditional medicine commonly applied for the treatment of varicella in South Sulawesi. The aim of this study is to study the effect of extraction methods and solvents on phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity in the extraction of safflower. The study began with sample extraction with various solvents, i.e., water, ethanol 70, methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane and various methods, i.e., reflux, Soxhlet, hot maceration, cold maceration and room temperature maceration. Each extract was standardized for its phytochemical content, i.e., phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids and the antioxidant capacities were also determined by the radical scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, total antioxidant capacity, cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity and Ferric reducing antioxidant power. The results indicated that the optimum total phenolic content was obtained when the florets were refluxed with methanol, flavonoids were refluxed with 70 % ethanol and carotenoids were Soxhleted with methanol. The research data also showed that 70 % ethanol and methanol have maximal antioxidant capacity. The results conclude that 70 % ethanol and methanol as solvents have the potential to extract the highest levels of phytochemical content and antioxidant substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an edible oilseed crop mainly cultivated in marginal lands. This study evaluates safflower crop water requirements to understand its feasibility to cultivate under rainfed ecosystem through a field experiment undertaken at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semiarid Tropics research farm, India. Eight improved and stress‐tolerant safflower cultivars (five spiny and three non‐spiny) were evaluated in Vertisols at three soil depths, that is, shallow: <0.60 m, medium: 0.60–1.20 m, and deep:1.20–1.80 m, over 3 years (2009–2012). Wet, normal, and deficit rainfall years were experienced during 2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012, respectively. Soil moisture, crop yield, and growth parameters were measured, and field‐scale hydrology was captured through a calibrated one‐dimensional water balance model. Safflower responded to available residual soil moisture which varied with soil depth and rainfall received in different years. Total crop water use was 300–320 mm during the postrainy season, of which about 70% was extracted in deep Vertisols and 55% in medium Vertisols through residual soil moisture. In addition, 30% of water requirement was met through postrainy season rainfall. Safflower grown in shallow Vertisols could only meet 40% of crop water requirement. Spiny cultivar NARI‐H‐15 grown in deep soil recorded a maximum yield of 1890 kg ha−1 in the wet year. Seed yield from spiny cultivars grown in deep and medium soils was nearly similar (1500–1600 kg ha−1) during wet and normal years; a significant reduction in yield (>50%) occurred in shallow soils and also during a rainfall deficit year. Spiny cultivars produced 10%–50% higher seed yield compared to non‐spiny cultivars. Growing safflower in medium and deep Vertisols provides opportunities for crop intensification. Core Ideas: Safflower, cultivated during the postrainy season in semiarid tropics, requires 300–320 mm of water.Residual soil moisture contributes about 30%–35%, 50%–60% and 65%–80%, of the crop's water requirement in shallow, medium, and deep Vertisols.Yield potential of safflower grown in shallow Vertisols was low and was constrained due to moisture stress in the rainfed ecology.Spiny safflower cultivars performed better (10%–50% higher yields) compared with non‐spiny cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron, renowned for its aroma and flavor, is susceptible to adulteration due to its high value and demand. Current detection methods, including ISO standards, often fail to identify specific adulterants such as safflower or turmeric up to 20% (w/w). Therefore, the quest continues for robust screening methods using advanced techniques to tackle this persistent challenge of safeguarding saffron quality and authenticity. Advanced techniques such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), with its molecular specificity and high sensitivity, offer promising solutions. Samples of pure saffron and saffron adulterated with safflower and turmeric at three inclusion levels (5%, 10%, and 20%) were analyzed without prior treatment. Spectral analysis revealed distinct signatures for pure saffron, safflower, and turmeric. Through principal component analysis (PCA), TOF-SIMS effectively discriminated between pure saffron and saffron adulterated with turmeric and safflower at different inclusion levels. The variation between the groups is attributed to the characteristic peaks of safflower and the amino group peaks and mineral peaks of saffron. Additionally, a study was conducted to demonstrate that semi-quantification of the level of safflower inclusion can be achieved from the normalized values of its characteristic peaks in the saffron matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modifying biochar with nano-nutrients is one of the most effective methods in improving the efficiency of biochar in reducing the adverse effects of environmental stresses such as salinity on plant growth and productivity. The possible effects of solid biochar, nano-silicon dioxide enriched biochar, nano-calcium carbonate enriched biochar, and combined application of these enriched biochars on physiological performance of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were evaluated under different levels of salt stress (non-saline, 6 and 12 dSm−1). Salt stress increased sodium content, reactive oxygen species generation, and antioxidant enzymes activity, but decreased potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, silicon, photosynthetic pigments, leaf water content, and seed yield (by about 36%) of safflower plants. The addition of biochar forms to the saline soil improved growth (up to 24.6%) and seed yield (up to 37%) of safflower by reducing sodium accumulation (by about 32%) and ROS generation and enhancing nutrient uptake, photosynthetic pigments, and water contents of leaves. The combined forms of enriched biochars were the best treatment on reducing salt stress effects on safflower plants. Therefore, application of enriched biochars has a high potential to reduce the harmful effects of salt stress on plants. Enriching biochar with calcium and silicon nanoparticles is a practical method to improve the ability of biochar to adsorb and immobilize harmful elements such as sodium in the rhizosphere. This enrichment enhanced safflower plant growth and physiological efficiency under salt stress by reducing sodium absorption and increasing the availability of beneficial nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower is known as a tolerant plant to abiotic stress factors. This study was conducted to introduce some physiological indices to improve drought-tolerant safflower genotypes for cultivation in marginal and arid areas. Six safflower genotypes were studied for two years (2017–2019) in the East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre of Iran under non-stressed and low-water conditions from flowering to seed maturity. The occurrence of water deficits led to a significant decrease in relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (gs), osmotic adjustment (Oadj), water potential (WP) and agronomic water use efficiency (WUEa) and an increase in the water stress index (CWSI). In addition, the values of these traits differed significantly between the safflower genotypes. The correlations between the physiological traits and seed yield were significant. The regression relationships between seed yield and the above traits showed that CWSI, WP and WUEa had a strong relationship with seed yield under normal (R2 = 0.854, 0.801 and 0.856, respectively) and water deficit conditions (R2 = 0.931, 0.877 and 0.900, respectively). It can be concluded that the CWSI, WP and WUEa indices are able to select high-yielding and drought-tolerant safflower genotypes for the late season. Among the components of seed yield, the number of capitula per plant (r = 0.86) and seeds per capitula (r = 0.92), which were positively and significantly correlated with seed yield, played the main roles in the formation of seed yield. The Golemehr and Mec.295 genotypes achieved higher seed yields under normal (4676 and 4961 kg h−1, respectively) and water deficit conditions (3211 and 3385 kg h−1, respectively) and can be recommended for cultivation in marginal and arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of stress modifiers in intercropping systems on seed yield and yield components, physiological traits, and antioxidant activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rainfed (water deficit) conditions. The experimental design included three stressmodulator levels [control, 1 mM salicylic acid (SA), and 10 mM selenium (Se)] and five planting patterns [intercropping one row of safflower and two rows of chickpeas (1S:2C), two rows of safflower and four rows of chickpeas (2S:4C), and three rows of safflower and five rows of chickpeas (3S:5C), and sole cropping of safflower (Ss) and chickpea (Cs)]. The results revealed that Ss treated with Se produced the highest safflower biological yield (4,905.50 kg ha-1) and seed yield (1,259.50 kg ha-1), while Cs produced the highest chickpea biological yield (2,799.67 kg ha-1) and seed yield (852.44 kg ha-1), followed by Cs treated with SA (2,419.25 kg ha-1 and 764.83 kg ha-1, respectively). Conversely, the 3S:5C intercropping ratio (IR) with Se application recorded the highest safflower oil content (32.08%), while Ss treated with Se produced the highest oil yield (358.62 kg ha-1). The 2S:4C configuration with Se application produced the highest unsaturated fatty acid (oleic and linoleic acids) concentrations in safflower, while 2S:4C and 3S:5C treated with Se produced the highest chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in safflower and chickpea. Furthermore, 1S:2C and 2S:4C treated with SA or Se produced the highest proline and total soluble sugars in safflower and chickpea. The SA and Se treatments in the intercropping systems increased catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities compared to the respective control plants (sole cropping) and enhanced oil contents, fatty acid composition, physiological traits, and antioxidant properties. These results underscore the potential of intercropping systems coupled with stress modulator treatments as a sustainable approach for safflower and chickpea cultivation under rainfed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop simulation models are valuable tools for decision making regarding evaluation and crop improvement under different field conditions. CSM-CROPGRO model integrates genotype, environment and crop management portfolios to simulate growth, development and yield. Modeling the safflower response to varied climate regimes are needed to strengthen its productivity dynamics. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of DSSAT-CSM-CROPGRO-Safflower (Version 4.8.2) under diverse climatic conditions. The model was calibrated using the field observations for phenology, biomass and safflower grain yield (SGY) of the year 2016–17. Estimation of genetic coefficients was performed using GLUE (Genetic Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation) program. Simulated results for days to flowering, maturity, biomass at flowering and maturity and SGY were predicted reasonably with good statistical indices. Model evaluation results elucidate phenological events with low root mean square error (6.32 and 6.52) and high d-index (0.95 and 0.96) for days to flowering and maturity respectively for all genotypes and climate conditions. Fair prediction of safflower biomass at flowering and maturity showed low RMSE (887.3 and 564.3 kg ha−1) and high d-index (0.67 and 0.93) for the studied genotypes across the environments. RMSE for validated safflower grain yield (101.8 kg ha−1) and d-index (0.95) depicted that model outperformed for all genotypes and growing conditions. Longer appropriate growing conditions at NARC-Islamabad took optimal duration to assimilate photosynthetic products lead to higher grain yield. Safflower resilience to different environments showed that it can be used as an alternate crop for different agroecological regions. Furthermore, CROPGRO-Safflower model can be used as tool to further evaluate inclusion of safflower in the existing cropping systems of studied regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of P and Zn is a crucial factor affecting plant growth and yield. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of P and Zn on P-Zn distribution in safflower tissues and seed yield. A two-year study was conducted in farmer fields in northeastern Turkey during 2014 and 2015 years. P applications consisted of four levels (0, 3, 6 and 9 kg P2O5 da−1) that were allotted to the main plots. Sub-plots were composed of three Zn levels (0, 0.5 and 1 kg Zn da−1). The results showed that P and Zn applications had a significant effect on the P and Zn concentration of straw, head, seed, and yield. P concentration in straw, head, and seed increased significantly with increasing P and Zn levels. Zn concentration decreased with high P levels compared to the control, while it increased with increasing Zn levels regardless of P application. At low P levels, yield did not respond to Zn treatments; however, at high P doses, Zn application resulted in a dramatic increase in yield compared to the control. In order to increase seed yield, instead of P and Zn sole application, their combined application was very effective, and doses of 9 kg P2O5 da−1 and 0.5 kg Zn da−1 showed the optimum performance. In conclusion, this study revealed that in P- and Zn-deficient soil, P treatments increased seed yield remarkably, but the combined application of P and Zn resulted in even higher yield increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, to promote sustainable nano-farming, the apparent effects of different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 ppm) of titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2NPs) solutions on the germination percentage, index and duration of seeds belonging to Balcı, Dincer, Hasankendi, Koc, Olas, and Zirkon safflower varieties were investigated. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to analyze TiO2NPs in germinated safflower varieties. Germination performance was TiO2NPs concentration and variety depended. It was determined that the seed samples displayed different responses to TiO2NPs concentrations; germination percentages were between 20.0±1.15 and 82.9±0.44%, germination durations were between 2.01±0.021 to 3.82±0.017 days, and germination indices were between 9.97±0.606 and 38.97±0.959. While the highest germination percentage (82.9±0.44%) was obtained from Dincer variety with 100 ppm TiO2NP pre-application, the lowest germination percentage (20.0±1.15% and 20.0±1.92%) was obtained from Balcı and Hasan Kendi varieties with 100 and 300 ppm TiO2NP pre-application. According to this result, although the highest germination percentage based on variety was obtained from the Dincer variety, the Balcı variety with the lowest germination percentage provided the most significant increase in the 200 ppm TiO2NPs application dose compared to the control. According to the germination percentage, it can be said that the most effective TiO2NPs application dose in Safflower varieties is 200 ppm. Further research on nanoparticles is needed to determine both the economical doses of TiO2NP pre-application and its uptake by the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate variability is a major challenge concerning food security; therefore, there is a need for pragmatic solutions to improve agricultural production. Henceforth, this study was planned to optimize the planting time of exotic safflowers under the prevailing conditions in Faisalabad, Pakistan. A study was executed by employing a split-plot design with six safflower accessions and five sowing dates ranging from 31 October 2019 to 31 December 2019. The results of the experimental safflower accession PI-198990 produced significant seed yields (2432 kg ha−1, 2772 kg ha−1 and 2366 kg ha−1) when sown on 30 November 2019, 15 December 2019, and 31 December 2019, respectively. On the other hand, on 31 October 2019 and 30 November 2019, sown safflower accessions PI-208677 and PI-250187 were the best performers, respectively. However, a higher achene oil percentage (31.5% and 30.8%) was noted in accessions PI-250187 and PI-314650 when sown on 31 December 2019 and 15 December 2019, respectively. The highest oleic acid content (22.92% and 22.83%) was determined in accession PI-314650 when planted on 30 November 2019 and 15 December 2019, respectively, whereas a higher linoleic acid content was observed on 31 October 2019 and 30 November 2019. Stability analysis showed that safflower accession PI-210834 was the most stable under all sowing environments, followed by PI-314650. Correlation analysis showed that oil percentage showed a negative correlation with phenological traits and growing degree days, and oil yield showed a strong positive relationship with heads, seed yield, biological yield, thousand seed weight, and harvest index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a multipurpose minor crop consumed by developed and developing nations around the world with limited research funding and genetic resources. Genomic selection (GS) is an effective modern breeding tool that can help to fast-track the genetic diversity preserved in genebank collections to facilitate rapid and efficient germplasm improvement and variety development. In the present study, we simulated four GS strategies to compare genetic gains and inbreeding during breeding cycles in a safflower recurrent selection breeding program targeting grain yield (GY) and seed oil content (OL). We observed positive genetic gains over cycles in all four GS strategies, where the first cycle delivered the largest genetic gain. Single-trait GS strategies had the greatest gain for the target trait but had very limited genetic improvement for the other trait. Simultaneous selection for GY and OL via indices indicated higher gains for both traits than crossing between the two single-trait independent culling strategies. The multi-trait GS strategy with mating relationship control (GS_GY + OL + Rel) resulted in a lower inbreeding coefficeint but a similar gain compared to that of the GS_GY + OL (without inbreeding control) strategy after a few cycles. Our findings lay the foundation for future safflower GS breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower honey (SH) is highly valued for its unique aromatic components and potentialbiological activity. However, the current volatile profiles on SH are insufficient. Here, we characterized the pollen feature of SH and safflower pollen (SP) from pollen analysis, and performed a widely-targeted volatilome analysis on SH and SP. A total of 374 shared significantly different metabolites were identified between safflower pollen and safflower honey, including 90 terpenoids, 58 esters, 56 heterocyclic compounds, 33 alcohols and others. Of these, hotrienol was the most significantly up-regulated aroma component of SH, and therefore likely to contribute to the sweet and floral flavour. In addition, the characteristic components of safflower essential oil such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, benzaldehyde and others were detected in SH. These results suggest that safflower honey may have potential health benefits similar to those of its parent plant and could be used as a novel functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Reproductive success is crucial in dairy farming as it heavily relies on the consumption of a complete mixed ration for the diet. The current study investigated the effects of adding saturated (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to dairy cows' diets on reproductive performance and reproductive hormones during the transition period. A total of 30 Holstein dairy cows were randomly divided into three groups (10 animals in each group), based on parity and body condition score. The cows had an initial body weight of 567.5 ± 40.3 kg (mean ± SD), a body condition score of 3.5 ± 0.26 out of 5 (mean ± SD), and a parity of 1.7 ± 0.02 (mean ± SD). The control group received a balanced ration meeting all the nutrient requirements according to the National Research Council (NRC) guidelines. The SFA group received 1.4% of dry matter (DM) as palm oil (RumiFat®), while the omega group had 5% of DM as safflower (a source of n-6 fatty acids) added from 21 days before parturition to 21 days after, and 4% of DM as flaxseed (a source of n-3 fatty acids) added from 21 to 42 days after parturition. In the Omega group, estradiol concentration significantly increased on artificial insemination (AI) day (12.54 pg/mL). Additionally, serum prostaglandin F2-alpha concentration was significantly higher in the omega group (0.732 pg/mL on day 7 and 1.68 pg/mL on day 14) compared to other groups. The control group exhibited the highest progesterone concentrations at 14 and 21 days post-calving compared to the other groups, other groups. whereas the omega group highest concentration five days after AI. The omega group also showed a significantly higher mean number of follicles >10mm and larger ovulatory follicle diameter. Moreover, a higher percentage of pregnant cows at 120 days in milk, fewer open days, and lower service per conception were observed in the omega group compared to the other groups. In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows' diets with PUFAs during the transition period positively influenced ovarian function, hormone levels, and reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) is an important oilseed crop that is cultivated globally. Aphids are a serious pest of safflower and cause significant yield losses of up to 80% due to their ability to multiply rapidly by parthenogenesis. In this study, we report the identification of an aphid-tolerant accession in safflower following screening of a representative global germplasm collection of 327 accessions from 37 countries. Field-based screening methods gave inconsistent and ambiguous results for aphid tolerance between natural and controlled infestation assays and required ~ 3 months for completion. Therefore, we used a rapid, high-throughput hydroponics-based assay system that allows phenotyping of aphid tolerance/susceptibility in a large number of plants in a limited area, significantly reduces the time required to ~ 45 days and avoids inconsistencies observed in field-based studies. We identified one accession out of the 327 tested germplasm lines that demonstrated aphid tolerance in field-based natural and controlled infestation studies and also using the hydroponics approach. Inheritance analysis of the trait was conducted using the hydroponics approach on F1 and F2 progeny generated from a cross between the tolerant and susceptible lines. Aphid-tolerance was observed to be a dominant trait governed by a single locus/gene that can be mobilized after mapping into cultivated varieties of safflower. The hydroponics-based assay described in this study would be very useful for studying the molecular mechanism of aphid-tolerance in safflower and can also be used for bioassays in several other crops that are amenable to hydroponics-based growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionSafflower, a traditional Chinese medicine, is rich in chemical components including flavonoids, polysaccharides, and alkaloids. It exhibits pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-thrombosis properties, making it a valuable resource in the medical field. Furthermore, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, safflower is increasingly being utilized in the cosmetics industry.MethodsIn this study, yeast was employed to ferment safflower, and the optimal fermentation conditions were established through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Subsequently, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy of the safflower fermentation solution was assessed using both cellular and zebrafish models. Finally, the safety of the safflower fermentation solution was evaluated through a cosmetic eye irritation test.ResultsFrom a total of 20 yeast strains, YF-5 was identified as the dominant strain for safflower fermentation. By optimizing the fermentation conditions, it was established that the optimal parameters for YF-5 fermentation of safflower are as follows: a fermentation temperature of 36.55°C, a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:20.46, a fructose concentration of 6.20%, a fermentation duration of 72 h, and an inoculum volume of 4%. The biological activities of safflower, including its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, were enhanced through yeast fermentation. In HaCaT cell and zebrafish oxidative damage assays, safflower fermentation solution inhibits the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as well as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). In the RAW264.7 cell inflammatory damage assays, a 20% safflower fermentation solution was found to inhibit the release of TNF-α and NO in the inflammatory model, with inhibition rates of 30.94 and 28.86%, respectively. In the zebrafish inflammatory damage assays, the quantity of fluorescent neutral proteins in the 5% safflower fermentation solution was 0.7 times that observed in the dexamethasone (0.1 mg/mL) positive control group, indicating that its anti-inflammatory activity is comparable to that of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/mL). In the chicken embryo chorionic membrane experiment, it was observed that the safflower fermentation solution did not cause significant damage to the blood vessels of the chorionic allantoic membrane (CAM). This finding demonstrates that the safflower fermentation solution possesses a certain degree of safety.DiscussionSafflower fermentation solution has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities, and it has passed cosmetic safety evaluations. It can be used as a new natural cosmetic ingredient added to cosmetic products.

Abstract Domesticated safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a widely cultivated edible oil crop. However, despite its economic importance, the genetic basis underlying key traits such as oil content, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and flowering time remains poorly understood. Here, we present the genome assembly for C. tinctorius variety Jihong01, which was obtained by integrating Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and BGI-SEQ500 sequencing results. The assembled genome was 1,061.1 Mb, and consisted of 32,379 protein-coding genes, 97.71% of which were functionally annotated. Safflower had a recent whole genome duplication (WGD) event in evolution history and diverged from sunflower approximately 37.3 million years ago. Through comparative genomic analysis at five seed development stages, we unveiled the pivotal roles of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) and fatty acid desaturase 6 (FAD6) in linoleic acid (LA) biosynthesis. Similarly, the differential gene expression analysis further reinforced the significance of these genes in regulating LA accumulation. Moreover, our investigation of seed fatty acid composition at different seed developmental stages unveiled the crucial roles of FAD2 and FAD6 in LA biosynthesis. These findings offer important insights into enhancing breeding programs for the improvement of quality traits and provide reference resource for further research on the natural properties of safflower.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), adapted to arid and semiarid regions, is grown for seed and petal production, but the present study aimed to evaluate the possibility of simultaneous forage and seed production in the autumn and middle types of safflower varieties in dual-purpose cultivation in semiarid areas in the shortfall forage period. An experiment was done based on a randomized complete block design with nine treatments and three replications at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agriculture Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran. The treatments included the cultivation of Parnian, Goldasht, and Golmehr varieties with the purpose of seed harvesting as control treatments; the same varieties (Parnian, Goldasht, and Golmehr), once with the aim of forage harvesting at 50% stem elongation stage and seed harvesting; and again with the aim of forage harvesting at 50% branching stage and seed harvesting. The results showed that forage harvesting at the 50% branching stage significantly increased the dry and fresh forage yield compared to the 50% stem elongation stage. The highest fresh and dry forage yields (DFY) (42,229 and 11,266 kg/ha) were related to the Golmehr variety at the 50% branching stage. Forage harvesting at the stem elongation stage decreased the crude protein, protein content, and digestibility compared to the branching stage in three safflower varieties. Parnian variety had the maximum seed yield (2,226 kg/ha) without forage harvesting. The highest seed yield in the second year (2018–2019) of the experiment belonged to the Golmehr variety (1,310 kg/ha) to harvest forage at 50% stem elongation (rapid stem growth) and seed harvest treatment, which compared to the first year (2017–2018), showed an increase of 25%. Finally, the forage harvested amount of all three varieties studied was higher in the branching stage than in the stem elongation stage. These results implied that the Golmehr variety (11,266 kg/ha DFY and 520 kg/ha seed yield) is for dual-purpose cultivation, and the Parnian variety (2,226 kg/ha seed yield) is suitable for only seed production for the semiarid region of Karaj in Iran and similar areas in terms of climate.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a member of the Asteraceae family, is widely used in traditional herbal medicine. This review summarized agronomic conditions, genetic diversity, clinical application, and phytochemicals and pharmacological properties of safflower. The genetic diversity of the plant is rich. Abundant in secondary metabolites like flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, polysaccharides, fatty acids, polyacetylene, and other bioactive components, the medicinal plant is effective for treating cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and respiratory diseases. Especially, Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HYSA) has a variety of pharmacological effects. In terms of treatment and prevention of some space sickness in space travel, safflower could be a potential therapeutic agent. Further studies are still required to support the development of safflower in medicine. Our review indicates that safflower is an important medicinal plant and research prospects regarding safflower are very broad and worthy of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonol synthase gene (FLS) is a member of the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) superfamily and plays an important role in plant flavonoids biosynthetic pathways. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a key source of traditional Chinese medicine, is widely cultivated in China. Although the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway has been studied in several model species, it still remains to be explored in safflower. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of CtFLS1 gene in flavonoid biosynthesis and drought stress responses. The bioinformatics analysis on the CtFLS1 gene showed that it contains two FLS-specific motifs (PxxxIRxxxEQP and SxxTxLVP), suggesting its independent evolution. Further, the expression level of CtFLS1 in safflower showed a positive correlation with the accumulation level of total flavonoid content in four different flowering stages. In addition, CtFLS1-overexpression (OE) Arabidopsis plants significantly induced the expression levels of key genes involved in flavonol pathway. On the contrary, the expression of anthocyanin pathway-related genes and MYB transcription factors showed down-regulation. Furthermore, CtFLS1-OE plants promoted seed germination, as well as resistance to osmotic pressure and drought, and reduced sensitivity to ABA compared to mutant and wild-type plants. Moreover, CtFLS1 and CtANS1 were both subcellularly located at the cell membrane and nucleus; the yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay showed that they interacted with each other at the cell membrane. Altogether, these findings suggest the positive role of CtFLS1 in alleviating drought stress by stimulating flavonols and anthocyanin accumulation in safflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgreens are a new, rapidly growing group of foodstuffs. The decorative function of these is often accompanied by their use in traditional dishes. As microgreens are eaten at very early stages, when the development of the epidermis is at its minimum, the bioavailability of minerals will be found to be higher in microgreens then in mature vegetables. So, microgreens can be an excellent functional food, especially for mineral-deficient populations, although they can also be a source of contaminants such as heavy metals or nitrates and nitrites. The purpose of this study was to measure the levels of selected heavy metals (i.e., cadmium, arsenic, lead, chromium, aluminium, zinc, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese, vanadium, boron, antimony, thallium, titanium and strontium), as well as nitrates and nitrites, in microgreens at various stage of vegetation, using uncommon oilseed plants like nigella—Nigella sativa L., safflower—Carthamus tinctorius L., and camelina—Camelina sativa L. The examined microgreens of rare oilseed plants may be a source of contaminants and nitrates. The mineral profile of these plants is mainly determined by their genotype. Microgreens' cultivation involves compliance with safety standards and replicable conditions to guarantee that the highest nutritional value is reached at the lowest possible contaminant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the cultivars that efficiently take up and use soil phosphorus (P) can reduce the financial and environmental costs of using P fertilizers. To investigate the growth, yield, and P acquisition efficiency of different cultivars of safflower affected by P deficiency and P applications, this study was conducted as a randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications in the Tikmeh Dash research station in East Azerbaijan province, Iran in 2016–2017. The studied factors were P fertilization in five levels (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 kg P ha-1 from Triple superphosphate (TSP)) and safflower cultivars (Padideh and Goldasht). The results showed that under the P deficiency condition, the grain yield of Padideh was about 17% greater than that of Goldasht (1544 vs 1319 kg ha-1). Padideh cultivar was superior to Goldasht in terms of oil percentage (43.2 vs. 40.9%). Grain yield correlated with straw yield (R2 = 0.526**), P concentration (R2 = 0.192**), and the number of fertile capsules (R2 = 0.51**). In general, it is concluded that P concentration in straw is an important factor for grain production in safflower. Although both cultivars showed the greatest benefit-cost ratio of grain and oil yield in the 10 kg ha-1 P treatment, the Padideh cultivar was the superior cultivar. For the conditions of about 7.2 mg kg-1 available Olsen P, the application of 10 kg ha-1 P (50 kg ha-1 TSP) for the Padideh cultivar can be economical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective identification and usage of genetic variation are prerequisites for developing nutrientefficient cultivars. A collection of 94 safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) genotypes (G) was investigated for important morphological and photosynthetic traits at four nitrogen (N) treatments. We found significant variation for all the studied traits except chlorophyll b (chl b) among safflower genotypes, nitrogen treatments and G × N interaction. The examined traits showed a 2.82-50.00% increase in response to N application. Biological yield (BY) reflected a significantly positive correlation with fresh shoot weight (FSW), root length (RL), fresh root weight (FRW) and number of leaves (NOL), while a significantly positive correlation was also observed among carotenoids (C), chlorophyll a (chl a), chl b and total chlorophyll content (CT) under all treatments. Superior genotypes with respect to plant height (PH), FSW, NOL, RL, FRW and BY were clustered into Group 3, while genotypes with better mean performance regarding chl a, chl b C and CT were clustered into Group 2 as observed in principal component analysis. The identified eight best-performing genotypes could be useful to develop improved nitrogen efficient cultivars. Genome-wide association analysis resulted in 32 marker-trait associations (MTAs) under four treatments. Markers namely DArT-45481731, DArT-17812864, DArT-15670279 and DArT-45482737 were found consistent. Protein-protein interaction networks of loci associated with MTAs were related to fatty acid and branched-chain amino acid metabolism and histone modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower grown in the western U.S. is often produced for birdseed mixes. Increasing demand for birdseed products, combined with regional drought, has shrunk western safflower availability. To satisfy the growing demand, processors may look to contracting strategies to incentivize production. We compare expected risk and corresponding certainty equivalents both from the processor and producer viewpoints under various contracting mechanisms and risk aversion levels. Results suggest that contracts containing a combination of lump sum acreage payments and fixed price performance payments would incentivize producer adoption of safflower while maintaining processor profitability and limiting the risk exposure of both parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an ancient oilseed crop of interest due to its diversity of end-use industrial and food products. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling of its organs during seed development, which can provide further insights on seed quality attributes to assist in variety and product development, has not yet been undertaken. In this study, an integrated proteome and metabolic analysis have shown a high complexity of lipophilic proteins and metabolites differentially expressed across organs and tissues during seed development and petal wilting. We demonstrated that these approaches successfully discriminated safflower reproductive organs and developmental stages with the identification of 2179 unique compounds and 3043 peptides matching 724 unique proteins. A comparison between cotyledon and husk tissues revealed the complementarity of using both technologies, with husks mostly featuring metabolites (99%), while cotyledons predominantly yielded peptides (90%). This provided a more complete picture of mechanisms discriminating the seed envelope from what it protected. Furthermore, we showed distinct molecular signatures of petal wilting and colour transition, seed growth, and maturation. We revealed the molecular makeup shift occurring during petal colour transition and wilting, as well as the importance of benzenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and pigments. Finally, our study emphasizes that the biochemical mechanisms implicated in the growing and maturing of safflower seeds are complex and far-reaching, as evidenced by AraCyc, PaintOmics, and MetaboAnalyst mapping capabilities. This study provides a new resource for functional knowledge of safflower seed and potentially further enables the precision development of novel products and safflower varieties with biotechnology and molecular farming applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the effects of priming methods on seedling physiology under osmotic stress conditions is important to understand how priming enhances osmotic stress tolerance in safflower. The mechanisms by which priming achieves this at the physiological level, such as changes in osmoprotectants, antioxidants, and membrane damage, are not well understood. This research aims to fill these knowledge gaps and provide insights that can be used to optimize priming treatments and improve safflower productivity in drought-prone areas.. Seeds were treated with priming including distilled water, folic acid, glutathione, epibrassinolide and chitosan and then subjected to osmotic stresses including no osmotic stress, mild osmotic stress (4 bar) and severe osmotic stress (8 bar) for germination and seedling growth. Severe osmotic stress increased soluble leaf proteins, this increase was observed in all priming treatments except distilled water. Severe osmotic stress increased soluble leaf proteins by an average of 35% in folic acid, chitosan, and epibrassinolide treatments. Chitosan treatment exhibited 172% and 188% more proline under mild and severe stress, respectively, compared to the control. Folic acid treatment showed a 207% increase in catalase under severe stress. Epibrassinolide and glutathione treatments had 201% more superoxide dismutase (SOD) under non-stress conditions. Distilled water treatment had 48.6% more soluble sugars under non-stress, while glutathione and epibrassinolide treatments had 14.5% more under mild stress. Control treatment had the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) amounts under mild and severe stress. Chitosan treatment exhibited a 25% increase in seedling length under severe stress compared to the control. Under non-stress conditions, chitosan treatment had slightly lower seedling length compared to control, while glutathione and epibrassinolide treatments showed the highest lengths. Under mild stress, folic acid, chitosan, and epibrassinolide treatments were superior to control. Under severe stress, distilled water showed a 20% increase, while chitosan treatment showed a 25% increase in seedling length compared to control. Chitosan treatment improved safflower seedling growth under severe osmotic stress through mechanisms including increased osmoprotectant levels, enhanced antioxidant activity, and improved membrane integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the biomechanical properties of safflowers is essential for appropriately designing harvesting machinery and optimizing the harvesting process. Safflower is a flexible crop that lacks a basis for relevant simulation parameters, which causes difficulties in designing harvesting machinery. In this study, a calibration method for safflowers was proposed. First, a discrete element model was established by measuring the intrinsic parameters of a safflower, such as its geometric parameters, density, Poisson's ratio, and modulus of elasticity. Second, the contact and bonding parameters were calibrated using a combination of physical and simulation tests. In the contact parameter tests, the Hertz-Mindlin (no-slip) model was implemented for the stacking angle tests conducted regarding the safflower filament. A regular two-level factorial design was used to determine the important factors and perform the steepest climb test. Moreover, the Box-Behnken design was adopted to obtain the optimal contact parameters. In the bonding parameter tests, the Hertz-Mindlin model with bonding contact was applied for the safflower shear simulation tests; moreover, the optimum bonding parameters were obtained through the central composite design test. The results demonstrated that the relative errors between the simulated and measured stacking angles and maximum shear were 3.19% and 5.29%, respectively. As a result, the safflower simulation parameters were accurately calibrated, providing a reference for appropriately setting the simulation parameters and designing key mechanical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two different locations -- the Badush Dam area and the College of Agriculture and Forestry- University of Mosul, Iraq -- a field experiment commenced in the winter of 2021--2022 to investigate how planting distances between lines at 30, 45, and 60 cm affect the growth and productivity characteristics of safflower cultivars (Gilla, Almais, and Urdine). The experiment with a randomized complete block design used two parameters. The outcomes showed significant differences between planting distances in most read-up attributes for both regions. A planting distance of 30 cm gave the most essential impetus for the height of a plant in the Badush Dam region. Moreover, both regions recorded the highest rate for seeds/capitula from a planting distance of 45 cm and the maximum rate for branches/plant, leaf area, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, oil content (%), and oil yield, and capitula/plant only in the college region. In both experimental sites, the varieties substantially impacted every trait under study. The highest values emerged for the Gilla variety for the 1000-seed weight at both sites. The utmost rates showed for the plant height, branches/plant, leaf area, capitula/plant, seeds/capitula, seed yield, and percentage of oil for the Almais variety. Moreover, the oil yield regarding branches/plants in the kidney site, leaf area in the dam site, and seed yield in both sites revealed a significant interaction between the Almais variety and the planting distance of 60 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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