Науково-технічний бюлетень Інституту олійних культур НААН

Scientific and Technical Bulletin of the Institute of Oilseed Crops NAAS (ISSN: 2078-7316) / 2026 / 40 / P. 31-44
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36710/IOC-2026-40-03
Correlation relationships and variability of important safflower traits under different weather conditions
Vedmedeva K. V., Makhova T. V., Yakubenko O. V.
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a promising oilseed crop, characterized by high drought resistance and the ability to adapt to different climatic conditions. In connection with climate change and increasing temperatures in Ukraine, it is relevant to study the variability of economically valuable traits of safflower and their dependence on weather factors. The aim of the work was to establish the range of variability of traits of safflower collection samples, determine the influence of weather conditions on their formation, and analyze the correlations between the main morphological and productive indicators. The research was conducted in 2013, 2014, 2024, and 2025 at the experimental field of the Institute of Oilseed Crops of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Collection samples were sown in open field conditions, and the yield per plant, the thousand-seed weight, oil content, plant height, number of branches and heads, head diameter, and the height of attachment of the first branch were evaluated. The oil content was determined by extraction, and statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Significant variability of the studied traits was observed. The yield per plant varied from 2.4 to 19.4 g, the thousand-seed weight from 37.2 to 67.7 g, the oil content from 24 to 34.8%. Samples with high yield and oil content were identified: Safflire, Gila and Mestniĭ 2. The highest thousand-seed weight was formed by the sample Bogatyr, which can be a source of seed size in breeding work. Significant correlations were found between yield and plant height (r = −0.41), as well as between yield and the height of attachment of the first branch (r = −0.43). A strong positive correlation was established between plant height and the height of attachment of the lower branch (r = 0.88). Analysis of weather conditions showed that the number of heads on a plant is positively correlated with the amount of precipitation in May and June, while an increase in temperature during this period negatively affects the formation of individual traits. The most favorable conditions for the development of safflower are cool and humid May and moderately warm June.
Keywords: trait, correlation, precipitation, air temperature, seeds, oil content, plant height, thousand seed weight
Citation: Vedmedeva, K. V., Makhova, T. V., & Yakubenko, O. V. (2026). Correlation relationships and variability of important safflower traits under different weather conditions. Scientific and Technical Bulletin of the Institute of Oilseed Crops NAAS, 40, 31-44. https://doi.org/10.36710/IOC-2026-40-03
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Received: 13.03.2026 Reviewed: 09.04.2026 Published: 01.05.2026
Vedmedeva Кaterina Vladislavivna – corresponding author, Candidate of Sciences in Biology, Senior Researcher, Deputy director for scientific work, Institute of Oilseed Crops of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences Ukraine (1 Instytutska St., Soniachne settlement, Zaporizhzhia district, Zaporizhzhia region, 69055), vedmedeva.katerina@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4571-2960. Machova Tatiana Victorivna – Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, laboratory manager, Institute of Oilseed Crops of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences Ukraine (1 Instytutska St., Soniachne settlement, Zaporizhzhia district, Zaporizhzhia region, 69055), rtw82@ukr.net, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0842-767Х. Yakubenko Olena Volodymyrivna – Senior Researcher, Institute of Oilseed Crops of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences Ukraine (1 Instytutska St., Soniachne settlement, Zaporizhzhia district, Zaporizhzhia region, 69055), katerinavedmedeva5@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2528-211Х.