Growers now will be able to quickly grasp specific information about new corn hybrids from Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, due to a simplified naming system that will begin with 2009 products. The new system will make it easier for growers to immediately identify the base genetics and traits found in hybrids they purchase from Pioneer, the company said.

“Pioneer’s new hybrid naming system is designed to help our customers instantly recognize the base genetics, comparative relative maturity (CRM) and traits of the corn products they purchase,” said Bill Belzer, Pioneer corn marketing manager. “We are committed to helping our customers get the right product on the right acre, and this new system will help make that process even better.”

The new numbering system is based on maturity, platform (base genetics) and trait identity. All Pioneer brand corn seed names will begin with the letter P, indicating a Pioneer brand hybrid, followed by four numbers, which will be distinctive in the seed industry.

The first two numbers will identify the approximate CRM of the platform. For platforms over 100 CRM, only the last two digits will be used, thus hybrid P0255 would have a CRM of approximately 102. The second pair of numbers, for example, 55 in P0255, is a random number. Platforms, or genetic lines, with a CRM of 95 would be named anywhere from P9501 to P9599. With numbers from 1 to 99, the numbering system will help facilitate the growing number of new, genetically diverse hybrid platforms Pioneer is releasing.

With the new numbering system, one number will identify the base genetics, including the conventional hybrid number and all those with additional traits.

To identify added traits, the new naming system will offer letters following the number to indicate exactly which traits are contained in the hybrid. For example, a new corn hybrid is named P9516XR. This hybrid contains Herculex XTRA insect protection (X), and Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait (R). For most of the technologies, the letters at the end of the hybrid will be a smaller capital letter. Two letters, however, will be larger. For waxy corn hybrids, there will be an “E” and for white corn hybrids, “W” will be used.

“Growers have a lot of information to manage in their farming operations, and our new numbering system makes it much easier for them to quickly identify exactly which technologies are in the new corn hybrids they purchase from Pioneer,” said Belzer.

The new numbering system is only for new hybrids and will launch with new platforms introduced this fall. To adhere to seed industry laws, the system will not affect currently marketed corn hybrids. Also, among new products for 2009 from base genetics currently sold, the seed name may have the old numbering system.