The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of ten sowing date on achenes yield, on achenes oil content s and, as a consequence, on oil yield in four cultivars of sunflower. Ten experiments were carried out at Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil, with intervals of 20 days, beginning on July 30, 2007 and finishing on January 28, 2008. Each sowing time constituted an experiment. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four treatments (cultivars) and four replicates. It was performed the analysis of variance of each experiment separately and, after that, the joint analysis of all experiments. There was interaction between sowing date and cultivars for all the studied variables. The highest achenes yield s and oil occurred at the end of July, in August and in September. The achenes oil content was higher in the earlier sowing dates, decreasing in the later sowing dates. The cultivars 'M734' and 'Aguará 4' had the highest achenes yield.
Helianthus annuus; yield of achenes; oil yield
