University of Tehran perss Journal of Crops Improvement 2008-8337 24 1 2022 03 21 Principal components analysis of some iranian and foreign safflower genotypes using morphological and agronomic traits Principal components analysis of some iranian and foreign safflower genotypes using morphological and agronomic traits 125 143 86854 10.22059/jci.2021.324606.2559 FA Hamid Jabbari Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran. Hamid Reza Fanaei Associate Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran. Farnaz Shariati Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran. Hamid Sadeghi Garmarodi Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran. Mohamad Abasali Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran. Amir Hasan Omidi Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran. Journal Article 2021 05 30 <span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">This study evaluates the genetic diversity of 122 safflower genotypes from the institute of plant genetics and crop plant research (IPK) and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). It compares their agronomic characteristics with five Iranian Safflower cultivars. Conducted at research field of Seed and Plant Improvement Research Institute in Karaj between 2017 and 2018, the experiment uses an Augmented with randomized complete block design. Results indicate high genetic variation in the germplasm. Among safflower genotypes, thirty-six genotypes without thistle, eighty-one genotypes with thorns, and ten genotypes with few thistle have been observed. Principal component analysis helps identifying three main components that account for 56.5% of the total variations. The first and second components account for 29.5% and 15.9% of the total variation, respectively. These are named as a yield components and phenology and plant architecture, respectively. Safflower genotypes are divided into four groups by principal components analysis (PCA). Genotypes in the first groups have the higher grain yield than others. Genotype No. 70 with the highest grain yield (5667 kg.ha^-1) is placed in this group. Numerical values of yield components such as 1000-seed weight, number of heads, and number of seeds per plant in the third group stand higher than other groups. Generally, German genotype No. 70 with high yield and genotype No. 45 with early flowering can be used in safflower breeding programs. </span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">This study evaluates the genetic diversity of 122 safflower genotypes from the institute of plant genetics and crop plant research (IPK) and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). It compares their agronomic characteristics with five Iranian Safflower cultivars. Conducted at research field of Seed and Plant Improvement Research Institute in Karaj between 2017 and 2018, the experiment uses an Augmented with randomized complete block design. Results indicate high genetic variation in the germplasm. Among safflower genotypes, thirty-six genotypes without thistle, eighty-one genotypes with thorns, and ten genotypes with few thistle have been observed. Principal component analysis helps identifying three main components that account for 56.5% of the total variations. The first and second components account for 29.5% and 15.9% of the total variation, respectively. These are named as a yield components and phenology and plant architecture, respectively. Safflower genotypes are divided into four groups by principal components analysis (PCA). Genotypes in the first groups have the higher grain yield than others. Genotype No. 70 with the highest grain yield (5667 kg.ha^-1) is placed in this group. Numerical values of yield components such as 1000-seed weight, number of heads, and number of seeds per plant in the third group stand higher than other groups. Generally, German genotype No. 70 with high yield and genotype No. 45 with early flowering can be used in safflower breeding programs. </span> https://jci.ut.ac.ir/article_86854_d27e34b1858032a91271cb2ea1f54a1e.pdf