Five bioclimatic indexes were evaluated to estimate the cycle duration of two sunflower cultivars and one hybrid, at Monte Alegre do Sul, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The following bioclimatic indexes were evaluated: thermic index (IT); heliothermic units (UH); accumulated photosyntetically active radiation (ARFA); Geslin heliothermic index (IHG), and accumulated potential evapotranspiration (AETP). The cultivars, IAC-Anhandy and VNIIMK, and the hybrid Contisol-621 were sown monthly, totalizing 22 different seasons, ranging from 01/14/88 to 01/19/90. Mean standart deviation and coefficient of variation (CV, %) were determined for each bioclimatic index, for all cultivars. The CVs showed that IT was the index that presented the lowest variation for all sowing seasons, with values of 4.5, 3.7, and 5.9%, respectivelly, for IAC-Anhandy, Contisol-621, and VNIIMK. The index IT was used to determine, by variance analysis and Tukey test, the differences between cultivars and the hybrid. The IAC-Anhandy (1743oC.day) and Contisol-621(1713oC.day), did not show significant differences. On the other hand, the VNIIMK was a later cultivar, requiring 1848oC.day to complete its cycle.
sunflower; bioclimatic index; IAC-Anhandy; Contisol-621; VNIIMK
