The effect of chlormequat and paclobutrazol treatment on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) growth and flowering

Abstract

The responses of six saffl ower varieties (Carthamus tinctorius L.) to chlormequat and paclobutrazol treatments were monitored. Although a chlormequat application did not bring about any signifi cant diff erences in fl owering or morphological traits, plants treated with paclobutrazol were shorter and had a higher number of fl ower heads. However, contrary to expectations, treatment by paclobutrazol also made fl owering earlier. This does not appear to support the idea that saffl ower is a typical long-day plant, progressing to fl oral induction and stem elongation a er vernalization in the winter at the leaf-rosette stage).