RESPONSE OF SUNFLOWER CULTIVARS TO PLANT- DENSITY IN 2 PLANTING DATES.1. GRAIN AND OIL YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

Two experiments were conducted at Eldorado do Sul. Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in order to evaluate the plant density most adequate to obtain high grain oil yield for different cultivars and to evaluate plant de nsity effects in the grain yield components. In 1989/90, the cultivars tested were Conti 711, DK 180 and GR-10, planted on July 28 and Septe mber 18, under four plant densities 30, 50, 70 and 90 thousand plants/ ha. In 1990/91, the cultivars tested were GR-16 and GR-10, planted on July 26 and September 17, under four plant densities 30, 50, 70 and 90 thousand plants/ha. The results showed that the cultivars presented d ifferent densities to obtain the maximum grain and/or oil yield, regar dless of planting date. In 1989/90, the short season cultivar with low height (Conti 711) presented higher oil yield potential in 90 thousan d plants/ha. On the other hand, the long season cultivars with average and high heigt (DK 180 and GR-10, respectively) presented higher grai n and oil yield potentials in 30 thousand plants/ha. In 1990/91, the c ultivar low height (BR-16) presented higher grain and oil yield potent ial in 70 thousand plants/ha. On the other hand, for grain and oil yie ld, the cultivar GR-10 was not affected by plant density, in function of the low grains yield. As density increased, the number of grain per head decreased more intensively in the cultivars with average and hig h height in contrast with the cultivars with low height. On the other hand, for the other component, weight of 1000 grains there was no inte raction between cultivar and plant density. Oil content increased as d ensity did only in the cultivar Conti 711.