TESTING OF MAIZE HYBRIDS OF DIFFERENT MATURITY GROUPS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTH-WESTERN FOREST-STEPPE OF UKRAINE

The research results of maize hybrids of different maturity groups (FAO 199–399) during 2018–2020 in the conditions of the South-Western part of the Forest- Steppe of Ukraine are presented. 54 domestic registered and perspective hybrids of selection of various research institutions of Ukraine (SE Institute of Grain Crops NAAS, Plant Production Institute named after V. Ya. Yuriev of NAAS, Selection and Genetics Institu-te – National Center for Seed Production and Variety Studying, National Research Center Institute of Agriculture of NAAS, Bukovynian State Agricultural Research Station of the Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of NAAS) were studied. The planting density of early ripening hybrids was 70, mid-early ripening – 60, mid-ripening – 50 thousand plants/ha. Plants were evaluated for uniformity, resistance to stem breakage below the productive ear, the damage degree by boil smut, resistance to root lodging and general condition were determined. All maize hybrids were characterized by high rating (8–9 points) on these traits. Over the years of research, the mid-early hybrids were more productive in the conditions of Bukovyna (9.06 t/ha), the mid-ripening hybrids - the least adapted to these conditions – (8.62 t/ha). The best samples with high grain yield and low grain moisture content at harvest were identified. On average for three years, DB Lada (9.64 t/ha) and DN Synevyr (9.43 t/ha) had the highest grain yield among the early-ripening hybrids, and DB Varta (10.81 t/ha), DB Khotyn (9.96 t/ha), and Kitsmanskyi 215 SV (9.61 t/ha) – among the middle-early one. It was found that DN Synevyr and DB Lada early-ripening hybrids and Kitsmanskyi 215 SV, DB Kho-tyn, DB Varta mid-early hybrids significantly exceeded the standards each year. In view of this, the hybrids of these maturity groups merit attention in the conditions of the South-Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Key words: hybrids, maize, selection, yield, harvesting moisture content, maturity group, lodging resistance.