Over 19 locations and two years of PACTS testing this new hybrid has given the highest dry matter content of any hybrid in the Pioneer range. P68106 combines extremely good early vigour with a very good eyespot (Kabatiella zeae) resistance score of 6.6.
P68106 was added to the UK National List in the UK in late spring 2025. P68106 is an extra early maturity high starch hybrid with a ‘dent like’ grain texture. It is suited to sowing on less favourable sites, and favourable sites where an early harvest is sought. It is a large stature hybrid for its maturity and is suitable for silage, biogas and grain production.
P68106 has been evaluated in two years of PACTS trials. It has given the highest dry matter content of any hybrid in the Pioneer range with a dry matter content on favourable sites of 41.9% over eight locations, and 39.2% on less favourable sites over eleven locations. Over all nineteen locations it has given an impressively high average dry matter content 40.5%.
P68106 has given very high starch contents and very high relative starch yields. On favourable PACTS locations it has given an average starch content of 39.0% and on less favourable locations an average starch content of 36.1%.
P68106 has shown particularly good resistance to Eyespot (Aureobasidium zeae) with a PACTS resistance score of 6.6. This rating was determined from assessments made in plots artificially inoculated with the disease, and in plots where natural infection occurred.
P68106 is a hybrid to be considered where early sowing is intended due to its impressive early vigour.
PACTS testing of P68106 in 2025 included differential plant population trials. PACTS trials indicate that P68106 provides very high starch contents at lower populations, and good starch contents combined with high forage dry matter yields at higher populations. Appropriate seeding rates for P68106 should be set according to the type of crop required and may vary in a wide range between 95,000 and 110,000 seeds per hectare in different situations.
Performance highlights:
* Score on a 1- 9 scale where 9 = very resistant
** Assumes plant establishment losses of less than 5%
*** Film penetration varies with conditions and film. Trials conducted with Samco and Maizetech films