Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 2, 378 - 392, 28.12.2025

Mehdi Najafian Mohamad Rahim Owji , Farhad Mohajeri Mehdi Madandoust

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of silicon foliar application on the yield, photosynthetic pigments, biochemical traits, and antioxidant capacity of three Iranian safflower cultivars (Faraman, Goldasht, and Golmehr) under different moisture conditions during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons in the hot and arid climate of Fars Province, Iran. The experiment was laid out as a factorial split-plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three
replications. The treatments included four irrigation regimes (full irrigation as control, irrigation withholding at stem elongation, flowering, and seed filling stages) assigned to the main plots, and the combination of three silicon concentrations (100, 150, and 200 mg L⁻¹) with three safflower cultivars allocated to subplots. Results showed that the highest leaf area index (3.5) and chlorophyll a content (4 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight) were obtained under full irrigation (supplying 100% of the crop water requirement). In contrast, the highest proline content (5 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight) and peroxidase activity (1.55 U mg⁻¹ protein) were observed when irrigation was withheld during the flowering stage. Moreover, silicon application, particularly at 200 mg L⁻¹, significantly enhanced photosynthetic pigments, biochemical compounds, and seed yield. Among the cultivars, Faraman exhibited superior levels of pigments, biochemical constituents, and antioxidant activity, as well as higher yield and greater drought tolerance than the others. Overall, flowering was identified as the most drought-sensitive growth stage in safflower, and silicon foliar application especially at 200 mg L⁻¹ proved to be an effective approach for mitigating drought stress effects and improving yield.

Keywords

Catalase , Chlorophyll , Malondialdehyde , Peroxidase , Proline

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