Evaluation of the effect of jasmonic acid and ascorbic acid on some morphophysiological traits of safflower genotypes Under deficit irrigation regimes

In order to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation treatment and foliar application of ascorbic acid and jasmonic acid on morphophysiological traits of safflower genotypes (Carthamus tinctorius L.), the experiment was set out in a split plot factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Shahrekord University Agricultural Research Station during the two years, i.e. 2016-2017. The main factor consisted of three levels of irrigation of 100%, 75% and 50% of the plant's water requirement of safflower and sub-factor including safflower genotypes including Sinai, Isfahan local, Faraman and foliar application with three levels including (0 concentration, foliar application of jasmonic acid with 0.5 mM concentration and foliar application of ascorbic acid with 20 mM concentration(. The results showed that the highest cholliorophyll a, cholliorophyll b, relative water content, leaf area index, crop growth rate, oil percentage, grain yield and oil yield related to Sina genotype and 100% of the plant's water requirement and The least of these traits were from Isfahan local genotype and 50% of the plant's water requirement. The results of this study showed that the interaction effects of genotype× deficit irrigtion and genotype× foliar application were significant only on cholliorophyll a and oil yield. Also foliar application of Jasmic acid and ascorbic acid increased all traits compared to non foliar application treatment. The results of this study showed that the differences between the genotypes and also effect of foliar application of jasmonic acid and ascorbic acid to increase of these traits were important components that could be used to select genotypes and suitable compounds to reduce undesirable effects of water stress in order to achieve increased economic performance.