Ecological plasticity of safflower varieties in contrasting natural and climatic conditions of Western Kazakhstan

Abstract

This research was carried out within the framework of the scientific and technical program BR10764991, “Creation of highly productive varieties and hybrids of oilseeds and cereals based on the achievements of biotechnology, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry of plants for their sustainable production in various soil and climatic zones of Kazakhstan,” under the budget program 267, “Increasing the availability of knowledge and scientific research.” The article presents the results of ecological variety testing of safflower in the arid conditions of Western Kazakhstan. Safflower is a drought-resistant oilseed crop that can produce a stable crop of oilseeds with an oil content of 27-38% in the conditions of the West Kazakhstan region. The main purpose of this scientific work is the systematic study of the selection material of safflower, with the identification of sources of valuable traits and properties based on ecological selection, and the creation of new competitive and patentable varieties adapted to the agroecological conditions of the region. The article presents the yield and the main elements of the structure of the yield of oilseeds of isolated safflower samples. The biological yield of safflower seeds in the nursery of ecological variety testing ranged from 6.4 to 12.0 c/ha. The article summarizes the results of ecological variety testing of safflower selection from the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant growing, the Research Institute of Agriculture of the South-East of the Volgograd State Agricultural Academy, the Krasnovodopadsky agricultural experimental station, and the Aktobe agricultural experimental station. These varieties were evaluated in this nursery based on their main economically valuable traits.