Natural Dyes and Antioxidant Compounds from Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Florets: The Effects of Genotype and Sowing Time.

ABSTRACT: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is increasingly attracting the attention of Mediterranean farmers due to its broad environmental adaptability and low input requirements. Although still relatively underexplored, this species holds remarkable potential as a source of natural dyes and bioactive phytochemicals with recognized health-promoting and phytotherapeutic properties. In this study, the effects of genotype and sowing time on safflower's productive and qualitative traits were investigated by testing six genotypes and two sowing times (autumn and spring) in an open-field trial conducted in central Tuscany. The Pieve genotype achieved the highest floret dry yield per head, number of heads per plant, and total floret yield per plant, whereas the Montola 2000 genotype was distingu

SUBMITTER: Clemente C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844731 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature