ISHS Acta Horticulturae 806: International Symposium on Underutilized Plants for Food Security, Nutrition, Income and Sustainable Development
SAFFLOWER: A WINTER OIL CROP SUITABLE FOR MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENTS |
| Author: | A. Corleto |
| Keywords: | Carthamus tinctorius L., varieties and hybrids, seed and oil yield potential, hay and silage production, developmental pattern, plant ideotype |
| Abstract:
Safflower is one of humanity’s oldest crops but it has been grown only on small surfaces around the world and it remains a minor crop. A review of research conducted in the last 30 years mainly in Southern Italy is summarized here. Safflower has been analysed from different points of view: seed yield potential, varieties and hybrids performances, types of edible oil, and as forage plant for hay and silage purposes. Safflower is a crop which should be particularly prized by scientists bearing in mind the high nutritional value of its oil, held by many to be similar to olive oil. A plant ideotype is suggested to fit the requirement of Mediterranean environments under rain fed condition. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
