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Different Regions Require Different Hybrids  

Hybrids Grown North of their Maturity Zone

-Late, full season hybrids characteristics:

• Flower relatively early
• Moderate plant height
• Adequate teset weight due ot shorter kernel filling period
• Good yield because higher yields are expected from late full season hybrids
• Adequate ear drydown because time between physiological kernel maturity and harvest is reduced
• Substantially higher moisture
• Greater risk to reatching yield potential because of early frost and fewer GDU's during the season

Hybrids Grown West of their Maturity Zone

• Require more heat and drought tolerance
• Can sacrifice ear and stalk rot tolerance due to drier conditions
• Have few test weight issues from lower kernel moisture at harvest due to drier and windier conditions
• Require better stalk strength, staygreen and root systems to tolerate windier conditions
• Require better ear retention and able to adapt to higher plant populations

Hybrids Grown East of their Maturity Zone

• Require more leaf, ear, root and stalk rot tolerance due to increased rainfall and higher humidity
• Require virus tolerance near Ohio River Valley and where Johnsongrass is present