Sunflower STEPNAY 81

Sunflower hybrid Stepnay 81 is a fast-maturing linoleic hybrid developed based on interspecific crosses with Jerusalem artichoke and fast-maturing sunflower varieties. The plant has a medium height of 130 to 140 cm, green leaves and stems without anthocyanin, and dark gray seeds. The vegetation period ranges from 88 to 108 days depending on the growing region, allowing the variety to be cultivated in various climatic conditions, including forest-steppe and steppe zones. The thousand-seed mass varies from 52 to 90 grams, and oil content reaches 48.7-53%, ensuring high oiliness and commercial attractiveness.

The variety exhibits high resistance to diseases such as false powdery mildew, local races of downy mildew, moth, Fomopsis, verticillium, sclerotinia, and rust. Thanks to these qualities and enhanced drought tolerance, Stepnay 81 adapts well to low-productivity, gravelly, and sandy soils, as well as regions with low cumulative active temperatures. The low stature of the plant saves time during harvest and reduces lodging risk, improving technological efficiency in industrial processing.

The recommended sowing rate depends on soil moisture levels and ranges from 50 to 65 thousand seeds per hectare. Yield in favorable years reaches 30-50 centners per hectare, confirmed by test results in various regions. Additionally, Stepnay 81 is an excellent honey plant, expanding its application in agroecosystems. For protection and enhanced cultivation efficiency, modern seed treatments such as AgroStart and Poncho are recommended.