Sunflowers Seed Guide

IMPORTANT: Trait ratings provide key information useful in selection and management of Pioneer ® brand products in your area. Scores are based on period-of-years testing through 2022 harvest and were the latest available at time of printing. Some scores may change after 2023 harvest. Contact your Pioneer sales professional before planting for the latest trait rating information. Information and ratings are based on comparisons with other Pioneer ® brand products, not competitive products. Information and ratings are assigned by Pioneer Agronomists and Research Managers, based on average performance across area of adaptation under normal conditions, over a wide range of both climate and soil types, and may not predict future results. Product responses are variable and subject to any number of environmental, disease and pest pressures. Please use this information as only part of your product positioning decision. Refer to ca. pioneer.com or contact a Pioneer sales professional for the latest and most complete listing of traits and scores for each Pioneer brand product and for product placement and management suggestions specific to your operation and local conditions.

RATINGS: 9 = Excellent; 1 = Poor; Blank = Insufficient Data.

DISEASE PRECAUTION: Grower should balance hybrid yield potential, hybrid maturity and cultural practice against anticipated risk of a specific disease and need for resistance. In high disease risk conditions, consider planting hybrids with at least a rating of 6 or higher to help reduce risk. When hybrids with disease ratings of 1 to 5 are planted in conditions of high disease pressure, the grower assumes a higher level of risk. If conditions are severe, even hybrids rated as resistant can be adversely affected. Independent of yield reduction, diseases can predispose plants to secondary diseases such as stalk rots. This requires individual field and hybrid monitoring for stalk stability and timely harvest when warranted.

DISEASE RATINGS: 9-8 = Highly Resistant; 7-6 = Resistant; 5-4 = Moderately Resistant; 3-1 = Susceptible; Blank = Insufficient Data.

HERBICIDE SYSTEM: Pioneer ® brand sunflower hybrids with the ExpressSun ® trait for resistance to tribenuron-methyl herbicides labeled for use with the ExpressSun trait. This unique sunflower system is designed to maximize weed control in sunflower crops, enhancing ease of production and yield. This system provides improved weed control over conventional hybrids with traditional herbicides.

RM (RELATIVE MATURITY): With no industry standard for maturity ratings, comparing hybrid maturity and harvest moisture ratings between companies is usually difficult. Use the RM rating to compare Pioneer ® brand hybrids of a similar maturity and harvest moisture.

EMERGENCE: Ratings taken when first true leaf is visible.

MID-OLEIC SCORE: 9 = Consistently meets oleic level specifications for NuSun ® oil.

HIGH-OLEIC SCORE: 9 = Consistently meets higholeic specifications for high-oleic oil profile of 85%.

PLANT HEIGHT: Short stature is desirable. 9 = Short; 1 = Tall.

STEM CURVATURE: 9 = Erect; 8 = Semi-Erect (preferred); 7 = Semi-Pendulous (preferred); 6 = Pendulous; 5 = Fully Pendulous.

MIDGE SCORE: To our knowledge, there are no fully resistant hybrids in this industry. However, differences exist in the ability to tolerate insect pressure. These scores reflect those differences. Heavy midge pressure can cause extensive damage to any hybrid.

DOWNY MILDEW RACE RESISTANCE: Indicates downy mildew resistance to the races identified.

HULL SCORE: A relative expression of hullability and kernel chipping. 9 = completely hulled, high percentage of whole kernels; 1 = poor hulling, many broken kernels.

PCT OVER 13: Using a 13/64th screen, oilseed types are divided by kernel size. 9 = high percentage over 13/64; 1 = low percentage. NuSun® is a registered certification mark of the National Sunflower Association.