منظر میرزاهاشمی - Graduated Student of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.
منظر محمدی نژاد - Associate Professor of Plant Breeding, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, P.O.Box: ۷۶۱۶۹-۱۳۳ Kerman, Iran.
پوران گلکار - Assistant Professor of Plant Breeding, Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Isfahan University of Technology, ۸۴۱۵۶ ۸۳۱۱۱ Isfahan, Iran.

 This study reports QTL mapping for seed yield and its components in safflower genome under drought stress. The F۳ families derived from the cross Mex.۲۲-۱۹۱ (tolerant) × IL.۱۱۱ (sensitive) were evaluated for agronomic traits in safflower. Drought tolerance was evaluated during ۱۰% of the flowering stage. To identify QTLs underlying tolerance to drought, mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) was carried out by composite interval mapping function. A genetic linkage map (LG) assembled from SSR and ISSR markers, was mapped. A total of ۱۴۵ DNA bands (SSR and ISSR markers) coalesced into ۲۴ LGs which summed to ۶۴۶ cM in the total map length. This analysis resulted in the identification of ۱۸ QTLs related to seed yield and its components. Based on findings in this study, four major QTLs and three linkage groups (۲, ۴ and ۶) played a crucial role in drought tolerance of safflower. The present linkage map may give a useful framework for mapping agronomic traits in safflower and the framework maps of C. tinctorius can serve as a foundation for future map integration, comparative genomics, QTL analysis and marker assisted breeding for drought tolerance. 

Drought stress, Linkage group, QTL analysis, Safflower