An experiment was performed using 121 genotypes to study correlations and relations between yield and other quantitative and qualitative traits in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). The study was carried out in 1996 at the Research Farm of Agricultural College of Karaj (Tehran University) , using a simple lattice design. Fifteen quantitative and six qualitative traits were recorded for all genotypes. respectively. Plant yield was highly and positively correlated to capsule diameter, days to the first flowering, number of seeds per capsule, number of capsules per plant and seed weight of a capsule.Correlation between 1000 seed weight and seed oil content was negative. Stepwise regression produced a function with seven variables including number of capsules per plant, capsule diameter, days to the first flowering,days to 50% flowering, plant height, 1000 seed weight and seed weight of a capsule. According to path analysis, number of capsules per plant had the highest direct effect on
plant yield. It exerted a large indirect effect by increasing seed weight of
a capsule. Factor analysis resulted in estimation of five factors: fertility and fruiting vigor, vegetative growth vigor, quality of seed pulp, individual yield potential and 1000 seed weight. These five factors accounted for 86.2% of existing variations.
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