Danub

Danub is a late-maturing, high-yielding, single-seeded diploid Z-type sugar beet hybrid developed by breeders of Florimond Desprez (France). Registered in 2009, it is intended for cultivation in the Central Chernozem (Region 5) and North Caucasus (Region 6) areas of Russia. This hybrid stands out for its high yield and high sugar content, making it attractive for industrial cultivation.

In the Central Chernozem region, the average root yield is about 500 centners per hectare with a sugar content of 17.5%, ensuring a sugar harvest of 87.5 centners per hectare. In the North Caucasus region, yield figures are slightly lower — 492 centners per hectare — but sugar content is higher — 17.9% — allowing for a sugar harvest of 88.9 centners per hectare. The weight of an individual root varies from 517 to 566 grams depending on the cultivation region. In Rostov Oblast, the Danub hybrid surpassed the standard Kuban MS 74 in terms of yield, sugar content, and sugar harvest.

The hybrid exhibits good disease resistance: it shows weak infection from root-eating pests and powdery mildew, as well as very weak infection from cercosporosis. This increases its reliability and reduces the risk of crop loss. Danub is suitable for industrial cultivation and delivers stable high performance when agronomic requirements are met.