Yield, oil content and fatty acid sythesis of crop are influenced by a lot of factors such as genotype, ecology, morphology and management( planting date, plant density, fertilization etc.). The aim of this study was to determine effect of Autumn and spring sowing on yield, oil content and fatty acid composition of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars under Shirvan conditions. This research was conducted at Research Farm of the Faculty of Shirvan Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran in 2009-2010. Five safflower cultivars ( Cinaa, CW-440, Sahuripa-88, Ghochan local and Isfahan local) were used in this study. The research was randomized complete block, split plot design with three replications. Different sowing time significantly affected yield, oil content and fatty acid compositin of the genotypes used in this study. There was interaction between genotypes and sowing times. According to the results of this research; Cina had highest yield in autumn and spring sowing (2989 and 2120 kg/ha respectively). Also Sahuaripa-88 has showed the highest oil content in autumn and spring sowing (32 and 28.9% respectively) but showed the lowest yield. Yield and oil content in autumn sowing was highest (847 kg/ha and 2.1%). The palmitic, stearic and oleic acid increased but linoleic, and linolenic acid decreased in autumn sowing. The effect of genotype on yield, oil content and fatty acid composition was greater than environment. According to the results of the study it was found that autumn sowning was suitable than spring sown and Cina genotype have desirable potential for planting in Shirvan region.

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