The effect of leaf removal on yield attributes of safflower

Abstract

At Kimberley Research Station, three-quarters, one-half, and one-quarter of the leaves of drill-sown plots of irrigated safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were removed at the late elongation stage, starting from the base of the plant, to simulate attack by the larvae of Prodenia litura F. Increasing severity of leaf removal had a progressively detrimental effect on seed yield and oil content ; however, removal of three-quarters of the leaves only reduced the yield of oil per acre by half.