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- 41. Safflower Breeder Recognized for 50 Years of Work
October 16, 2001
by Peter Else
David D. Rubis, professor emeritus of the plant sciences department at the University of Arizona, was recently honored for his significant contributions in safflower breeding and genetics in Arizona, extending over a 50-year period. He received the Fifth International Safflower Conference Research and Development Award in Williston, North Dakota on July 25.
This conference is held every four years in various locations around the world to promote the development of safflower as a seed and oil crop.
Rubis conducted safflower research at the USDA's Mesa station in the early 1950s and in the UA department of plant sciences from 1956 through 1986. He has worked as an independent scientist and as a consultant with Barkley Seed Inc. since his retirement from the UA, conducting fieldwork around Arizona in Marana, Mesa, Tucson, Safford and Yuma.
One of Rubis' outstanding contributions is his use of the thin-hull gene as a breeding tool. This single gene not only decreases the thickness of the seed hull, resulting in higher oil production, but it also affects the flowering characteristics of the plants in a way that has assisted the development of important safflower hybrids.
The flowers of the thin-hull safflower plants have a delayed release of pollen. Rubis discovered that this characteristic allowed him to essentially use these flowers as females in the intercrossing required to produce hybrids. This was a significant step forward in safflower breeding.
Using the intercrossing methods that he developed, Rubis has produced many beneficial characteristics in safflower hybrids, particularly in making the plants resistant to insect pests. This has resulted in decreased dependence upon pesticides in safflower production, which is becoming increasingly important to both consumers and producers.
Yuma is the main location for safflower production in Arizona, where approximately 6,000 acres are grown in a summer rotation with vegetable crops. While much of this Arizona crop is currently used in the production of birdseed, safflower is a very important source of food-grade oil. High-oleic safflower hybrids are actually higher in monounsaturates and lower in saturated fats than olive oil. The fact that such high-grade food oil can be produced by an annual plant, as opposed to a perennial tree, is of significant interest to oil crop breeders and producers all over the world. It is much easier to develop new crop varieties using annual plants as opposed to trees, and Rubis sees safflower breeding as the Southwest's opportunity to compete with a growing olive oil industry.
- Updated: October 16, 2001
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