Influence of genotype and time of harvest on Flores yield, carthamin and carthamidin contents, and dye index of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a versatile oil crop with drought, salinity, and severe temperature tolerance. Safflower Flores herbal tea and extracts are clinically correlated with the treatment or management of menstrual cramps, post-partum hemorrhage, whooping cough and chronic bronchitis, rheumatism, sciatica, pneumonia, chronic lung disease, rheumatism, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and gynecological complications. The water-soluble extract of safflower Flores hydroxysafflor yellow A is considered as an anticoagulant, neuroprotective, antihypertensive, vasodilating, anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, and has immune-protective properties and favourable effects on melanin biosynthesis. Safflower petal extracts are also used for colouring pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, lotions, textiles, and carpets. Genotypes and time of petal harvest have influence on the chemical composition of the safflower Flores. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate the influence genotypes and time of harvest of safflower Flores petal on Flores yield, carthamidin and carthamin contents, and dye index. The results indicated that in both summer and winter, safflower genotypes and time of harvest interacted significantly (p<0.05) to influence Flores yield, carthamidin and carthamin contents, and dye index. The safflower Flores yield varied between 90.3-116.5 kg/ha depending on genotype, time of harvest, and season of planting. The carthamidin and carthamin contents, and dye index varied between 1-7.5%, 0.02-0.05%, and 1-5, respectively, depending on genotypes, time of harvest, and season of planting. The best genotype to maximize safflower Flores yield with high carthamidin and carthamin contents, and dye index was Turkey (Spineless). While the best time to harvest safflower Flores and plant safflower to maximize Flores yield with high carthamidin and carthamin contents, and dye index was at the onset of flowering or full bloom and in winter.