The effect of the growth regulator paclobutrazol (PP333) on the growth, development and yield of Lolium perenne grown for seed

Application at spikelet initiation of the growth retardant paclobutrazol (PP333) at a rate of 2.0 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ increased the seed yield of perennial ryegrass cv. S24 from 139 to 180 g m⁻² in 1981, and from 111 to 256 g m⁻² in 1982. Yield increases were associated with an increased production of fertile tillers in both years and with an increased number of seeds per spikelet in 1982. Other yield components were not changed. Seed yield increased with increasing PP333 application rate in both years. No significant yield difference was recorded between application at spikelet and floret initiation in 1981.
Lodging was prevented completely by the 2.0-kg rate, delayed until after anthesis by the 1.0-kg rate and began before anthesis with the 0.5-kg rate. PP333 reduced stem internode length and strengthened the base of the stem; total stem dry matter (DM) was reduced, but root DM accumulation was increased at all rooting depths. Leaf area duration was significantly increased in both years.
Vegetative regrowth after seed harvest was not significantly reduced by PP333 application, but soil residual properties were demonstrated.     

Potential seed yield of white clover varieties

Fifteen varieties of white clover were sown in order to assess the seed yielding ability of new and potential varieties and to examine those plant factors which affect seed yield. Counts were made on number of inflorescences m^-2, proportion of ripe inflorescences and other inflorescence and seed characters. The data were used to compute potential seed yields.
Average potential seed yields were 276 and 76 kg ha^-1 in the first and second year, respectively. The decrease in the second year seed yields underlines the overriding effect of adverse weather conditions during the critical June to August period. The major effect was a reduction in the number of inflorescences produced, the number of florets per inflorescence and seeds per floret.
Some of the new listed varieties have a significantly higher seed potential than SI00, e.g. Menna (+ 38%) and Olwen (+28%), and this should facilitate the production of adequate seed supplies of British bred varieties.     

VARIATIONS IN SEED QUALITY BETWEEN CERTIFIED SEED LOTS OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO NITROGEN SUPPLY AND MOISTURE STATUS DURING SEED DEVELOPMENT

Ten Certified Seed lots of S23 perennial ryegrass produced in different counties in England during 1966, and ten lots produced in 1972, were examined for differences in characters affecting seed quality. The 1966 seed lots differed significantly in 1000–seed weight, germination rate, N content of the seed and seedling dry weight, and there was a significant correlation between seed N content and the seedling weight of the progeny. In both S23 and S24 perennial ryegrass N applied at inflorescence emergence or at anthesis increased N content of the seed and seedling dry weight. In S24 application of N at anthesis increased 1000–seed weight also. When plants of S23 perennial ryegrass were subjected to reduced moisture supplies their seed N content was increased. It is concluded that late N applications to grass seed crops may affect seed quality.     

Influence of water deficits on the water relations,canopy gas exchange,and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L., cv H-355) were subjected to four irrigation treatments after crop establishment: (i) unirrigated (D); (ii) irrigated until flower initiation [85 days from sowing (DAS)] and unirrigated thereafter (WD); (iii) unirrigated until active seed setting (129 DAS) and irrigated thereafter (DW); (iv) irrigated throughout (W). Several plant processes were measured on clear days betweem 85 and 144 DAS. The unirrigated plants had lower leaf water potentials, canopy evapotranspiration rates (ET), canopy photosynthetic rates (PN), plant dry weight and grain yield compared to the irrigated plants, but increased canopy-air temperature differences (T_c−T_a). Cessation of irrigation at flowering induced a rapid decrease in canopy photosynthesis and reduced the grain yield by 33% due to a decrease in the number of pods set. Irrigation from 129 DAS resulted in some recovery of grain yield resulting from the development of a small number of late pods with small seeds. Among yield components, water stress primarily affected the number of pods per plant and had little effect on the grain number per pod. Grain yield was linearly related to pod number, leaf water potential, and mean PN.     

氮磷对油用亚麻茎叶中生理指标及产量构成因子的影响

为了明确氮磷对胡麻茎叶中生理指标及产量构成因子的影响,以陇亚杂1号为材料,设计不施肥、施磷、施氮和氮磷配施4个处理。在大田条件下,研究了灌溉地陇亚杂1号整个生育期茎、叶中叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素、可溶性糖的动态变化。结果表明,叶绿素a和总叶绿素含量动态变化一致,呈先升后降趋势;叶片中叶绿素a和总叶绿素含量高峰值出现在现蕾期,茎中出现在盛花期;叶中可溶性糖含量先降后升,茎中呈降-升-降趋势;可溶性糖累积量,茎中先升后降,呈倒V型,最高值出现在绿熟期,叶中可溶性糖累积量也呈倒V型,最高值出现在盛花期。胡麻茎叶中叶绿素a、总叶绿素、可溶性糖含量和累积量都随氮磷增加而增加;氮磷配施与不施肥（CK）相比胡麻产量构成因子中单株蒴果数、每果籽粒数、千粒重及产量,分别提高了27.97%、16.13%、18.52%和49.07%。     

Molybdenum-enriched soybean seeds enhance N accumulation, seed yield, and seed protein content in Brazil

High soybean yields require large amounts of nitrogen (N), which can be obtained mainly from symbiotic N₂ fixation. However, the efficiency of this biological process can be limited by micronutrient deficiencies, especially of molybdenum (Mo). In Brazil, soybean generally responds positively to fertilization with Mo in soils of low fertility and in fertile soils depleted of Mo due to long-term cropping. The micronutrient can be supplied by seed treatment, however toxicity of Mo sources to Bradyrhizobium strains applied to seed as inoculant has been observed, resulting in bacterial death and reductions in nodulation, N₂ fixation and grain yield. Therefore, use of seeds enriched in Mo could be a viable alternative to exterior seed treatment, allowing elite inoculant strains of Bradyrhizobium to sustain high rates of biological N₂ fixation. We demonstrated the feasibility of producing Mo-rich seeds of several soybean cultivars, by means of two foliar sprays of 400 g Mo ha⁻¹ each, between the R3 and R5 stages, with a minimum interval of 10 days between sprays. As a result of this method, considerable increases in seed-Mo content were obtained, of as much as 3000%, in comparison to seeds obtained from plants which received no Mo. In field experiments performed in soils with low N content and without any N-fertilizer supply, inoculation of Mo-rich seeds produced plants with increased N and Mo contents in the grain and higher yields of total N and of grain. In most cases, Mo-rich soybean seeds did not require any further application of Mo-fertilizer.     

Cultivar and seasonal effects on the contribution of pre-anthesis assimilates to safflower yield

In crops grown under Mediterranean environments, translocation of pre-anthesis assimilates to the seed is of great importance for seed growth, because hot and dry conditions during the seed filling period diminish photosynthesis and crop nitrogen uptake. This field study was conducted to assess the genetic and seasonal variation in the amount of pre-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen accumulated and translocated to seed by safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) plants, and the possible N losses occurring between anthesis and maturity. Ten genotypes, 4 hybrids and 6 open pollinated cultivars, were grown for 2 growing seasons without irrigation, on a silty clay (Typic Xerorthent) soil. The proportion of dry matter and N content at anthesis that was translocated to seed differed among genotypes and ranged from 14.9 to 39.6 and from 24.8–59.3%, respectively. Genotypic differences in dry matter and N translocation were mainly associated with dry matter and N accumulated during the vegetative growth of the plants. Greater amounts of dry matter and N content at anthesis resulted in a greater dry matter and N translocation to seed during the filling period. When the N contents of aboveground plant parts at anthesis and maturity were compared, both gains and losses were observed, and were mainly related to the sink size. No N losses were detected when yield was high. When yield was low, N losses depended on N content at anthesis; high N content resulted in N losses, otherwise no N losses were observed. The contribution of pre-anthesis accumulated reserves to seed weight ranged from 64.7 to 92.2%, indicating the importance of pre-anthesis storage of assimilates for attaining high safflower yield.     

Accumulation of phytate and starch lysophospholipids in rice grains and responses to alterations in P supply or source-sink relations

The removal of phosphorus (P) from fields in the harvested seeds of staple crops is a major driver of the global P cycle, and consequently, there is interest in breeding grain crops with lower seed P concentrations. While it is expected that a reduction in seed total P would result in lower concentrations of the P-rich anti-nutrient phytate, the potential consequences for starch lysophospholipids (LPLs), which affect rice grain quality and health outcomes in humans, are unknown. We examined the accumulation of phytate and starch LPLs in developing indica (cv. IR64) and japonica (cv. Nipponbare) rice grains as well as the stability of starch LPLs and phytate under varying P supply treatments in hydroponics. Source-sink relationships during grain filling (drought and floret abortion) were also investigated in a pot study. Accumulation of phytate and starch LPLs in seeds continued until 18 days after anthesis (DAA) in cv. Nipponbare and 21 DAA in cv. IR64, which mirrored the accumulation of biomass in seeds. In the hydroponic study, permanent withdrawal of P from the nutrient solution at anthesis (until maturity) led to significant reductions in both phytate and starch LPLs with a similar trend observed when P was withdrawn at 8 DAA. In the pot study using soil, alteration of source-sink systems through drought stress during grain filling or floret abortion (manual removal of the top half of each panicle) also led to significant reductions in grain phytate and starch LPLs compared to control plants. These results indicate that in addition to affecting phytate concentrations, reduced P supply to rice plants during grain filling and alteration of source-sink relationships also impacts starch LPL concentrations. Given these complexities, breeding and selection for reduced seed P concentration in rice and other cereals should be undertaken with caution.     

A simultaneous effect of selfing and Epichloë endophyte on forage,seed yield and turf characteristics of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a putative turf and forage plant characterized as mainly outcrossing in which the extent of self‐fertilization and its consequences has not been investigated. In this study, selfed and half‐sib family seeds were obtained from ten clonally propagated ryegrass plants among which two were endophyte‐free (EF) and eight were endophyte‐infected (EI). Then, 20 seed populations plus two commercial varieties of Speedy and Vigor were sown and evaluated in a biennial experiment for their turf and forage characteristics. Selfing caused significant inbreeding depression for plant fresh and dry weight and leaf length and width in the first year for both EI and EF genotypes. In the second year, only leaf length remained depressed among these characters. Also, for the most growth, turf and reproductive traits, EI populations showed less depression. The presence of endophyte in self‐pollinated populations made an increasing effect for the number of seed per spike and days to heading, although seed weight was reduced. Some of the populations derived from self‐pollination and infected with fungal endophyte including S9 and S10 were even superior to the two commercial varieties in terms of both seed production and turf characteristics. However, for seed‐related characteristics including number of spikes per plant, seed weight and seed yield, EF populations including Speedy and Vigor were more reproductive than EI populations. It is concluded that selfing may increase the discrimination between EI and EF ryegrass plants because endophyte infection may mitigate the negative consequences of inbreeding depression in prone populations.     

Safflower yield,chlorophyll content,photosynthesis, and water use efficiency response to nitrogen fertilization under rainfed conditions

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a deep-rooted crop which can tolerate water stress and can be grown in rotation with other crop species. Nitrogen is very important for the growth and yield of safflower, however, the effect of N level on chlorophyll content, assimilation rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, substomatal CO₂ concentration, and water use efficiency (WUE) have not been determined. A 2-year field study was conducted with the objective to determine the effect of N fertilization on yield, yield components, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics, and WUE of safflower grown under rainfed conditions. Three rates of N were used (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) and two hybrids (CW9048 and CW9050). N fertilization increased seed yield by an average of 19%, the seed weight per plant by 60%, the seed weight per head by 18%, the number of heads per plant by 32%, and the number of seeds per plant by 41% compared with the control. N level also affected chlorophyll content, N concentration at anthesis, protein, and oil yield. N application increased assimilation rate by an average of 51%, stomatal conductance of water vapour by an average of 27%, and WUE by an average of 60% over the 2 years of the study when compared to the control. The present study indicates that N fertilization can affect yield, yield components, photosynthetic efficiency, and physiology of safflower under rainfed conditions.     

Spring defoliation of white clover seed crops. 2. Potential harvestable seed yield and seed yield components of contrasting white clover cultivars

The effects of different spring defoliation managements on potential harvestable seed yield and seed yield components of three contrasting white clover cultivars were assessed. The small-leaved cv. S184 produced more but smaller inflorescences than the large-leaved cv. Olwen and Menna, a medium-leaved cultivar. Cultivar Olwen, however, produced more ripe and brown (nearly ripe) inflorescences with more florets, seeds per floret and a higher seed yield per ten inflorescences than the other cultivars. Potential harvestable seed yield and individual seed yield components were only influenced by defoliation after bud emergence, as defoliation before bud emergence had no effect on seed yield components. Defoliation after bud emergence had a similar effect on all cultivars: the number of ripe inflorescences was unaffected by defoliation but the number of brown and therefore harvestable (ripe + brown) inflorescences was highest following defoliation three weeks after bud emergence. Florets per inflorescence, seed per floret, 1000 seed weight, seed yield per ten inflorescences and potential harvestable seed yield were not influenced by defoliation after bud emergence. Season had a significant effect on seed yield components and influenced the effect of defoliation treatments, emphasizing the importance of climate in white clover seed production. The results are discussed in relation to the spring defoliation of white clover seed crops, harvesting techniques and the provision of guidelines for optimizing seed yield.     

大田追施硫肥对双低油菜产量与品质的影响

硫酸盐肥料以S10或40kg／hm2分别在油菜的出苗期、莲座期、现蕾期、抽薹期及初花期施入缺硫土壤，并在出苗期结合施用氮肥N80或160kg／hm2。结果表明，对照区植株在抽薹期表现出严重的缺硫症状，特别是单施N160kg／hm2的小区。追施S10kg／hm2可显著提高油菜产量及含油量，但追施时期间差异未达到显著性水准，这一施用量明显不足，油菜籽产量远低于施S40kg／hm2处理。迟于花期追施S40kg／hm2，籽粒产量较前期减少约20％。此外，施S40kg／hm2还可明显提高籽粒的蛋白质含量。对缺硫植株，籽粒N：S比大于10，而供硫适宜植株为7．5。总硫代葡萄糖甙含量随施硫量的增加而提高，且后期追施明显高于前期。     

The effect of light intensity after anthesis on dry matter distribution and seed yield of Lolium perenne L.

The effect of light intensity after onset of anthesis on dry matter distribution, water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration and seed filling in Lolium perenne was investigated in a pot experiment. Spaced plants of five clones were brought to flowering and exposed to four light intensities (24%, 57%, 100%, 115% of natural light) from 7 days after onset of anthesis onwards. The two oldest flowering tillers (i.e. the main and the first tiller) were separated from the rest of the plant and dissected after a seed-filling period of 450°Cd (temperature sum counting from 7 days after onset of anthesis). Their stem dry weight and WSC concentration were reduced at the lowest light intensity. WSC amount was more reduced in the first, younger, tiller. Seed yield per ear of the main tiller was reduced by 14% because seed set and average seed weight were lower at the 24% light intensity. Seed yield and seed number per ear of the first tiller were lowered by 21% and 17%, respectively, at the 24% light intensity, but average seed weight was not. The relative contribution of the seeds to total tiller weight was about 20% and was similar for both tillers and all light intensities. WSC concentration and WSC amount in the stem + rachis were reduced only at 24% light in the main tiller and at 24% and 57% light in the first tiller. It is inferred that seed yield was not limited by assimilate availability, but by the ability of the seeds to utilize fully the abundantly available reserves in the stem. The tiller can support seed yield under a wide range of tight intensities.     

Alleviation of waterlogging damage in winter rape by application of uniconazole: Effects on morphological characteristics,hormones and photosynthesis

Oilseed rape seedlings (Brassica napus L.) treated with uniconazole were transplanted at the five-leaf stage into specially designed experimental containers, and then exposed to waterlogging for 3 weeks. Pre-treatment of rape seedlings with uniconazole significantly increased seedling height, shoot width, number of green leaves and leaf area per plant, and consequently the shoot, root, and total dry weight after waterlogging. Following waterlogging stress, the uniconazole treated plants had a significantly improved growth including plant height, length and width of leaves, number of green leaves, leaf area per plant, and canopy width at the stem elongation stage, and plant height, stem width, and root, shoot and total dry weight at the flowering stage. At harvest, uniconazole treatment increased the number of primary and secondary branches, seeds per pod, and number of effective pods in branches and in terminal raceme after waterlogging treatment. The uniconazole-induced increase in the number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod were the two yield components responsible for the significantly greater seed and oil yields obtained from the uniconazole plus waterlogging treated plants, over either the control or waterlogged plants. Uniconazole also reduced waterlogging-induced rise in the erucic acid content of the seeds. The modification of GA₃, zeatin, ABA and ethylene levels due to pre-treatment of rape seedlings with uniconazole might have helped to delay the chlorosis and senescence induced by waterlogging. Uniconazole treatment also increased the leaf photosynthetic rates of waterlogged plants, in part, due to the changes in leaf conductance and hormone levels which ultimately affected various physiological processes.     

氮素用量对油葵氮磷钾养分吸收积累及产量的影响

为研究氮素对油葵植株氮磷钾养分积累和产量的影响,采用田间试验方法,在宁夏中部干旱带同心地区进行了油葵肥料试验。结果表明,在供试土壤条件下,氮磷钾养分积累均呈“S”型曲线,符合Logistic方程。施氮量在6～18kg/667m2之间时,均促进油葵对氮磷钾的吸收。其中,100kg籽粒所需N、P2O5、K2O范围分别是5.68～6.19kg、4.32～4.62kg、14.82～21.20kg,三要素（N:P2O5:K2O）平均比例为1:0.76:2.93。成熟期时,氮磷钾总积累量均是N2P2K2处理最高,分别达到47.99g/株、35.45g/株、152.30g/株。当施氮量为10.53kg/667m2时,产量达最高值221.02kg/667m2,最佳经济效应施氮量为9.54kg/667m2,最佳经济效益产量为220.48kg/667m2。     

Evaluation of seed production potential in white clover (Trifolium repens L. varietal improvement programmes

The components of actual and potential seed yield were examined in field experiments on a wide range of varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The factors affecting seed yield under conditions typical of management regimes used in the production of commercial seed crops were assessed in two experiments. In the first, carried out on spaced plants, considerable diferences are shown between six varieties across the range of leaf sizes in the distribution and profuseness of inflorescence production through the flowering season. In the second, carried out in plots, typical on-farm criteria were used to choose a single harvest date. Significant variation was found between varieties, including representatives of different leaf size categories, for seed yield components that include number of inflorescences m^?2, number of florets per inflorescence and harvestable seed weight. Large-leaved varieties tended to produce more seeds per floret and higher seed weights per inflorescence, whereas small-leaved varieties gave the highest number of inflorescences ^?2. However, the small-leaved variety AderDale, selected for strong peduncles, was exceptional, giving high values for all seed yield components. The impact of weather conditions on many seed yield components (e.g. total number of inflorescences) was demonstrated by the differences between the 2 years of the experiment. However, other characterstics, e.g. number of florets per inflorescence and number of seeds per floret, did not vary between years. Deviations from potential seed yield were assessed fromthe perspective of commerical seed production. The implications of these results for the production of white clover varieties with increased seed yields under UK conditions are discussed.     

Photoperiod-sensitive development phases in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Effects of photoperiod on phasic development, leaf appearance and seed growth in two cultivars of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), and of photoperiod × temperature interactions on seed growth in one cultivar, were examined. The cultivars were Kanckolla (an early-flowering cultivar from the Andean plateau in Southern Peru) and Blanca de Junín (an intermediate flowering cultivar from the tropical valleys of central Peru). The main objectives were to establish which developmental phases are sensitive to photoperiod and whether conditions during a particular phase had delayed effects on subsequent development. Plants were grown in naturally lit growth cabinets and photoperiods were given as 10 h of natural daylight followed by extensions with low intensity artificial light giving either a short (SD, 10.25 h) or long (LD, 14 or 16 h) photoperiod. Treatments were constant (SD or LD) photoperiods or involved transfers between photoperiods at different developmental stages. A quantitative SD response was observed for time to anthesis and total number of leaves, and more than 50% of leaf primordia were formed after floral initiation. With transfers effected during the reproductive phase, the maximum number of leaf primordia, total number of leaves and time to anthesis varied by up to 9%, 33% and 24%, respectively, in relation to controls under constant SD; and by up to 8%, 39% and 12%, respectively, in relation to controls under constant LD. Photoperiods applied after leaf primordia initiation had ceased affected duration of the reproductive phase and total number of leaves through effects on the proportion of primordia that remained unexpanded (range 7–33%). Plants grown in SD until anthesis produced seed, measured 66 days after anthesis, four-fold larger in diameter than seed on plants always grown in LD. Seed diameter was also reduced by 24% by LD applied after anthesis, and by 14% by high temperature (28°C cf. 21°C), but the combination of high temperature with LD gave the greatest inhibition of seed growth (73%). Clearly, photoperiod had strong effects on all stages of plant reproduction and often acted indirectly, as shown by delayed responses expressed in later phases of development.     

Precipitation during anthesis reduces seed set in perennial ryegrass

In perennial ryegrass seed production, the establishment of seed yield potential occurs until the point of anthesis. However, utilizing potential seed yield is predominately focused on processes after anthesis, namely seed set (%) and seed filling. In practice, seed yield is the product of the number of harvested seeds remaining after cleaning and average seed weight. For this study, the anthesis patterns and seed set were recorded in a diploid variety grown in seed production fields in three different Danish regions with contrasting weather conditions and investigated in 2013 and 2014. Increases in the total precipitation during anthesis reduced the anthesis synchrony and the seed set, which ranged from 50% to 66%. Under semi‐controlled environmental conditions in which the influence of precipitation was excluded, the seed set was found to be influenced by the floret position in the spikelet and ranged from 73% in the florets in basal positions to 25% in the distal florets. It is suggested that a lower number of florets per spikelet will reduce the anthesis period. These results may provide insights for breeding programmes focused on increasing seed yield.     

Effect of plant density on stolon growth and development of contrasting white clover (Trifolium repens) varieties and its influence on the components of seed yield

Plants of two contrasting white clover varieties (cv. Aberystwyth S184 and Olwen) were planted in the field in spring in each of 2 years at four densities (9, 25, 49 and 100 plants m⁻²) in 1-m² plots. The effect of plant density on stolon growth and development and the components of seed yield was subsequently measured.
Stolon growth and development was influenced by plant density, variety and year. At low plant densities both white clover varieties produced longer primary stolons than at higher densities. Plant density, however, had no significant effect on the number of inflorescences at harvest. At the high stolon densities there were significantly fewer reproductive nodes per primary stolon than at the lower plant densities. Plant density did not significantly affect any other seed yield components, but the number of inflorescences at harvest, florets per inflorescence, seed set per floret and 1000-seed weight were all significantly influenced by both variety and year.
The relationship between the vegetative and reproductive growth of white clover is discussed in relation to plant density, variety and climate and the possible role of defoliation managements on inflorescence development.     

Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation,partitioning, and retranslocation in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) as affected by nitrogen fertilization

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a deep-rooted crop which can tolerate water stress and can be grown in rotation with other crop species. Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for the growth and development of safflower; however, the effect of N level on dry matter, accumulation, partitioning, and retranslocation has not been extensively studied. A 2-year field study was therefore conducted with the objective to determine the effect of N fertilization on crop phenology, dry matter, N accumulation, partitioning and retranslocation of safflower grown under rain-fed conditions. Three rates of N were used (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) and two hybrids (CW9048 and CW9050) of safflower were selected. The experiment was conducted during the 2003–2004 (2004) and 2004–2005 (2005) growing seasons on a calcareous sandy loam (Entisols, Orthents, Typic Xerorthent) at the experimental farm of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Northern Greece. During 2004 spring was quite mild with significant rainfall whereas during 2005 spring was hotter with lower rainfall. Our study found that N fertilization increased biomass at anthesis by an average of 24% and at maturity by an average of 25% compared with the control. Total above ground biomass increased after anthesis in both years, in both hybrids and for all fertilizer treatments. N fertilization increased the dry matter partitioning in leaves + stems and heads at anthesis and also in leaves + stems, seeds, and head vegetative components at maturity. Dry matter translocation was not affected by N fertilization but lower values were found during the second year. N content was affected by the fertilization treatments and increased in those plants treated with fertilizer compared with the controls. In addition, N fertilization increased N retranslocation from the vegetative parts of the plant to the seed, but it did not affect N gain. During the second year, which was drier, there were significant N losses but also greater N translocation efficiency and higher contribution of pre-anthesis N to seed. Seed yield was correlated with the dry matter and N translocation indices, and was higher for the fertilized plants, compared with the control. The present study indicates that N fertilization promoted the growth of safflower and increased the dry matter yield, N accumulation, translocation and seed yield under rain-fed conditions.