Major achievements in safflower breeding and future challenges.

Arguably the most important safflower breeding achievements over the past half century have come from India and California. Breeding for disease resistance globally and medicinal uses of safflower as developed in China, warrant special attention. Gila, grown on more area than perhaps any other, needs special recognition. The recent major breakthroughs towards biotechnological uses of safflower, as well as long-time efforts at successful hybrid development, can be anticipated to result in major achievements of the future. No other country has had as much safflower research carried out as has India; nor has there been more safflower production over millennia than in India. The All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds included safflower from the early 1970's, improving productivity greatly. Under the mentorship of P.F. Knowles, the University of California at Davis, has contributed more than any other single centre towards our understanding and knowledge of genetics and inheritance of Carthamus tinctorius L. Resistances to major safflower diseases have been developed in safflower cultivars and germplasm in various countries: resistances to alternaria, rust, phytophthora and sclerotinia head rot. Medicinal uses of safflower, while widespread in China for centuries, may spread around the world. Released in 1958, Gila provided more global production than any other cultivar. Biotechnology of safflower is being aggressively developed, both in Canada and in India. Major advances and utilizations can be expected in this field of research and development. While major breakthroughs in hybrid safflower have been largely elusive, globally speaking, the future holds promise for such techniques.