SAFFLOWER: A WINTER OIL CROP SUITABLE FOR MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENTS

Safflower is one of humanity’s oldest crops but it has been grown only on small surfaces around the world and it remains a minor crop. A review of research conducted in the last 30 years mainly in Southern Italy is summarized here. Safflower has been analysed from different points of view: seed yield potential, varieties and hybrids performances, types of edible oil, and as forage plant for hay and silage purposes. Safflower is a crop which should be particularly prized by scientists bearing in mind the high nutritional value of its oil, held by many to be similar to olive oil. A plant ideotype is suggested to fit the requirement of Mediterranean environments under rain fed condition.