Corn hybrid Kharkovsky 40 M is a medium-early double interline hybrid with FAO 290, developed by breeders of the Institute of Plant Growing named after V.Ya. Yur'ev of UAAN through crossing maternal form of simple hybrid Kharkovsky 23 MS with parental form of simple hybrid Kharkovsky 40 MB. Plants reach a height of 220-240 cm, have 11-12 above-ground nodes on the main stem and 16-17 leaves. The cylindrical ear, 22 cm long and weighing 280 g, forms at a height of about 80 cm, fully covered by husk, with red stalk and well-ribbed tip. Kernel is dent-shaped, yellow, with grain yield of 79.3% and 1000-kernel weight of 290 g, containing 9% protein.
The hybrid is characterized by high cold resistance (4.7 points) and good drought tolerance, ensuring stable growth under various climatic conditions. It is tolerant to stalk rot, ear diseases, and resistant to damage by corn borers at standard levels. Vegetation period varies depending on the cultivation zone: 110 days in Steppe zone, 124 days in Forest-steppe, and 131 days in Polissia. Grain moisture at maturity ranges from 23.9% to 30.6%.
Kharkovsky 40 M stands out for its high yield, confirmed by competitive trials in the Forest-steppe zone, where average yield reached 81.7 centners per hectare, exceeding national standards by 2.7 centners per hectare. Maximum yield was recorded in 1999 at the Zolotonoшskoye seed testing site in Cherkasy region, amounting to 113.8 centners per hectare. Seed production of the hybrid is conducted on a sterile basis with full fertility restoration. Recommended for cultivation in the forest-steppe soil-climatic zone of Ukraine.
