Use of paclobutrazol and trinexepac-ethyl on growth, development, and flowering characteristics of safflower as an ornamental plant

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses and application methods of Trinexapac-ethyl (TE) and Paclobutrazol (PAC) on the growth, development, and flowering characteristics of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) plants. This study will contribute to revealing and expanding the potential of this species, which is known to have high drought, cold, and salinity tolerance, in the ornamental plants sector. In the experiment, two safflower cultivars (Olas and Dinçer), two different plant growth inhibitors (TE and PAC), two different application methods (foliar and soil), and different doses (TE: foliar- 0, 4, 6, 8, and 12 ppm; PAC: soil- 0, 25, and 50 mg/pot, foliar- 0, 50, 100, and 500 ppm) were studied. Based on the results obtained, the use of TE and PAC, which are plant growth inhibitors, is seen as a suitable alternative to use ‘Olas’ and ‘Dinçer’ cultivars of safflower plant as ornamental plants in landscape designs and to expand their use for this purpose. It was determined that PAC application at a dose of 500 ppm in the form of foliar spray was an appropriate application especially in terms of suppressing height growth, and the plants treated with TE had a wider plant width compared to those treated with PAC.