This study was conducted to assess yield stability of a worldwide collection of safflower, to determine association between AFLP markers and important agronomic traits and to study genetic of different traits under normal and drought stress conditions. In the first experiment, 100 genotypes (17 indigenous and 42 exotic) were evaluated using a lattice design under normal and drought stress conditions in three locations: Isfahan, Jiroft and Kerman. Results showed that native genotypes had higher oil content while the exotic ones showed higher yield and drought tolerant. According to principle components analysis (PCA) based on tolerance indices, genotypes PI 369847 (originating from Tajikestan) and CART 56 (originating from USA) were identified as the most drought tolerant genotypes in all studied locations. The stability assessment of the studied genotypes based on AMMI model and regression method indicated that PI 253759 (originating from Iraq) and Marand (originating from Iran) genotypes for seed yield and PI 369843 (originating from Uzbekistan) and Marand (originating from Iran) genotypes for oil yield were the stable genotypes in all environments. In the second experiment, association analysis of AFLP markers with consideration population structure and kinship of the studied genotypes were evaluated in three locations. Results showed a stable association between M62/E40- 35 marker with seed and oil yield and M62/E40- 17 marker with seed yield in normal conditions and M62/E41-11 marker with oil yield in drought stress conditions. Significant associations were also found between M62/E41- 22, M61/E32- 2 and M61/E40- 31 markers with number of capitula per plant, seed oil content (%) and day to maturity, respectively, in normal conditions and M47/E40- 18, M61/E37- 14 and M61/E40- 33 markers with number of seeds per capitulum, 1000- seed weight and plant height, respectively, in drought stress conditions. In the third experiment, genetic analysis using 10 × 10 full diallel method was carried out. The estimates of narrow- sense heritability and Baker ratio showed that additive gene effects were important for most of the studied traits suggested that breeding methods based on selection would be useful to improve these traits. Furthermore results indicated that genotypes Kermanshah (originating from Iran) in normal condition and PI 369847 (originating from Tajikestan) in drought stress condition were the best general combiners for seed yield. These genotypes can be used to increase the effectiveness of selection in breeding programs of safflower. Key words : safflower, humidity stress, stability, genetic structure, diallel method