Performance and the pursuit of continuous improvement are part of human nature. Every year, athletics and swimming records are broken. The Springboks have been crowned world champions twice in a row, and South Africa currently also holds the title of world champions in five-day cricket tournaments.
In the fields of science and technology, humanity likewise continually strives for progress and innovation, sometimes raising the question: “Where should we draw the line? Where does it all end?”
It is here that Pioneer – with vision, innovation, collaboration, and ethics – not only keeps the finish line in sight, but also pursues sustained, purposeful genetic development in the interest of food security, a driving force that improves the quality of life of producers, consumers, and humanity as a whole.
Against this backdrop, I would like to introduce a new white dryland cultivar. P28022WPW is a product that meets long-term objectives in terms of sustainability, adaptability, top yields and financial success.
Cultivar selection is an important decision based on various cultivar characteristics, including:
- yield potential
- prolificacy (multiple ears)
- productive tillers
- standability
- ear height, and
- disease tolerance.
Adaptability to variable temperature and rainfall conditions is of great importance. Extreme soil variation and even population recommendations are essential considerations when testing a new genetic platform.
Multi-year evaluation of P28022WPW shows that this new genetic platform meets these requirements. Pioneer is excited to add this product, equipped with PowerCore™ technology, to the Pioneer West white cultivar package. PowerCore™ technology provides protection against maize stalk borers and is also suitable for use in systems where Roundup is applied.
The black line in Figure 1 above represents P28022WPW, standardised to zero in terms of kg/ha difference relative to other cultivars.
Outperforming the competition
Multi-year data from the western production region show that P28022WPW is a new product that shifts the yield ceiling. It outperforms P2565WPW by an average of 438 kg/ha across 32 locations. P28022WPW convincingly outperforms P2885WPW by 898 kg/ha across 52 locations. This performance is proof of the strong genetic progress achieved through the white cultivar breeding programme in the western production region.
The extent to which P28022WPW outperforms formidable competing cultivars underscores this fact. P28022WPW surpasses Opposition A and B by 229 kg/ha (37 locations) and 287 kg/ha (38 locations), respectively. Surpassing top-selling products C and D by 871 kg/ha (56 locations) and 446 kg/ha (55 locations), respectively, is remarkable.
Excellent grain quality and good standability are characteristics that distinguish P28022WPW from other white dryland cultivars.
| Characteristic | Rating |
| Tillering capacity | 1,72 |
| Seedling vigour | S |
| Standability | S |
| Plant height (metres) | 2,14 |
| Head height (metres) | 1,09 |
| Plant/head ratio (%) | 51% |
| Productive tillers (%) | 5% |
| Hectolitre mass (kg/hl) | 75 |
P2565WPW, P2885WPW, and P28022WPW are therefore three Pioneer white cultivars that can be used together as stablemates in the western production region. This ensures adaptability, stability and risk diversification within a package – essential in an already unpredictable climatic environment and provides peace of mind to the producer.
The prolificacy index is 1,72. The ears are approximately equal in size and develop relatively uniformly.
P28022WPW is a maize cultivar that does not really tiller; rather, it has genetics with a strong expression of prolificacy, mainly carried on the main stem.
Early seedling growth is strong and rapid. The result is uniform emergence, providing the best possible foundation for yield potential. Plants are approximately 2,1 m tall, with ears carried at about 51% of the plant height. With ears positioned at 1,09 m, this product is easy to harvest.
Plant populations of 25 000 to 32 000 plants per hectare, depending on production potential and conditions, are recommended. The genetics perform well on all soil types. Any row configuration (0,9, 1,5 or 0,76 m) is acceptable.
P28022WPW is therefore a cultivar that offers solutions for risk reduction. It delivers excellent competitiveness in terms of yield, and particularly the stability, adaptability and compensatory ability of this genetic platform make it a favourable recommendation.
Given its excellent agronomic characteristics, P28022WPW should form part of any white maize cultivar package used for dryland production in the western production region.
For more information or enquiries, farmers can contact Pioneer by sending an email to info.rsa@pioneer.com or visit their website at www.pioneer.com/za
