Multi-Location Assessment of Sunflower Genotypes in Romania Over Two Drought-Affected Years

Florin Gabriel Anton¹, Maria Joița Păcureanu^1,2, Elisabeta Sava³, Elena Partal¹

¹National Agricultural Research-Development Institute Fundulea
²Center of Study and Research for Agroforestry Biodiversity
“Acad. David Davidescu”, Bucharest
³State Institute for Variety Testing and Registration, Bucharest

Keywords: sunflower, hybrids, seed yield, G×E interaction.

Abstract: In Romania, sunflower was cultivated on 1243250 hectares in 2024 and on 1183640 hectares in 2025, less with 59610 hectares than in year 2024. Booth years, 2024 and 2025 were affected by drought especially in period of flowering and seed ripening (BBCH 70-85). This study evaluated four sunflower hybrids, FD15E27 (Express Sun hybrid), HS2372C (conventional hybrid), HS2312CLP (Clearfield Plus hybrid) and HS2309E (Express Sun hybrid) - across ten locations in Romania during 2024 and 2025, to assess genotype and environment (GxE) interactions. Average seed yield of these four sunflower hybrids was 2315 kg/ha in year 2024 and 2650 Kg/ha in 2025, lower with 335 kg/ha in year 2024 than 2025. In year 2024, the highest seed yield where registered by sunflower hybrid HS2372C (3703 kg/ha) in Mircea Vodă location, Brăila County and the lowest seed yield where 1171 kg/ha in Roşiorii de Vede location, Teleorman County, registered by the same sunflower hybrid. In year 2025, the highest seed yield where registered by sunflower hybrid FD15E27 (4244 kg/ha) in Mircea Vodă location, Brăila County and the lowest seed yield where 617 kg/ha in Giurgita location, Dolj County, registered by sunflower hybrid HS2372C. Plant height in year 2024 ranged from 84 cm in HS2309E (Inand, Bihor County) to 220 cm in HS2312CLP (Negreşti, Vaslui County). In 2025, plant height ranged from 109 cm in HS2309E (Inand, Bihor County) to 190 cm in HS2312CLP (Mircea Vodă, Brăila County).
The thousand seed weight (TSW-grams) where in year 2024 between 28 g at HS2312CLP in Roşiorii de Vede location, Teleorman County and 72 g at HS2309E in Peciu Nou location, Timiş County. One thousand seed weight (TSW-grams) where in year 2025 between 30 g at HS2309E in Cogealac location, Constanţa County and 91 g at HS2312CLP in Mircea Vodă location, Brăila County.
Hectoliter weight (HW - kg/hl) where in year 2024 between 33 kg/hl at HS2309E in Inand location, Bihor County and 43 kg/hl at FD15E27 in Peciu Nou location and in Timiş County, Dâlga location, Călăraşi County and at HS2312CLP in Peciu Nou location, Timiş County. Hectoliter weight (HW - kg/hl) where in year 2025 between 33 kg/hl at HS2312CLP in Râmnicu Sărat, Buzău County, Tecuci location, Galaţi County and 47 kg/hl at sunflower hybrids FD15E27 and HS2372C in Peciu Nou location, Timiş County.
These results show substantial variability among sunflower hybrids under drought-affected conditions, highlighting the importance of G×E interactions in sunflower performance across Romania.