HelioSMART hybrids are the results of a breeding program with the best tolerance against main sunflower diseases, in particular mildew, present at the start of the cycle, sclerotinia which attacks mainly from flowering and verticillium, the signs of contamination of which appear more at the end of the cycle.
Managing the risk of diseases is a major issue for sunflower cultivation because these diseases can impact the yield by 30% to 100% depending on the conditions and the intensity of the attacks, and furthermore can decrease the oil quality. Sunflower diseases have a direct impact on the income of farmers and the performance of sunflower grain collectors.
Good agricultural practices must be accompanied by genetic innovations. In order to offer a variety choice adapted to the evolution of diseases therefore MAS Seeds researchers have developed a portfolio named HelioSMART. This genetic innovation is the result of many years of research and experimentations carried out in areas where disease pressure is greatest across Europe.
The HelioSMART hybrids have contamination levels that are 3 to 15%* lower than our market reference varieties. This translates into an increase in crop yield of up to 10%* in high disease risk situations.
*Study conducted in the MAS Seeds experimental network
We calculated the economic yield with a yield bonus of 10% and an average yield of 2,5T/ha.
The result is a bonus of 95€/ha!
*Results from MAS Seeds R&D network 2018,19 & 20, average with competitors, HelioSMART hybrids and no HelioSMART hybrids
SUNFLOWER DISEASES THROUGHOUT THE CYCLE
SCLEROTINIA
All #Sclerotinia types have a negative impact on sunflower yields. Listen to our MAS Seeds research team as they share their action plan to improve resistance.
VERTICILIUM
#Verticillium is expanding in Europe. Today solutions are limited but MAS Seeds is developing new solutions to limit its impact and secure the sunflower cultivation for the future.