Three-line hybrid of sunflower Nika

A three-line sunflower hybrid Nika was developed by hybridization of a simple sterile hybrid Donskoy 59 and a line-restorer of pollen fertility ED 155 at the Don experimental station. It is characterized by high productivity, over the years of testing, it exceeded the control on seed yield by 0.25 t per ha, on oil collection per hectare by 0.16 t per ha. According to the length of the vegetative period (98-104 days), it can be attributed to the middle-early group. Plant height is up to 170-180 cm. The leaves are large, the bubbling is very weak, and serration is large. Heads of medium size when maturing turned down with a straight stem. Achenes are broadly ovate, black with grey stripes along the edges and between the edges. The main distinguishing feature of the hybrid is its high productivity and resistance to the new aggressive races of broomrape (E, F, G) and downy mildew (race 330). The hybrid Nika has been included into the State register of protected breeding achievements of the Russian Federation since 2019 and allowed to be cultivated in the Central Black Soil (5), Northern Caucasus (6), Middle Volga (7), Low Volga (8), Ural (9), and Western Siberian (10) regions of Russia.