Odesska Blue

Odesska Blue — winter soft wheat of early-maturing type, recommended for cultivation in forest-steppe, Polissia, and steppe zones. The variety is characterized by high productivity and resistance to various fungal diseases, as well as good frost, heat, and drought tolerance. Plants reach a height of 86–92 cm, have white pyramidal spikes about 10 cm long with dense rachises diverging at an angle of 40–45 degrees. The medium-sized, oval, red-colored grain has high quality ratings. Regarding resistance, the variety demonstrates high resilience to stress conditions: drought (9 points), cold (7 points), lodging (7 points), and shattering (7–8 points). It also shows moderate resistance to root rot, septoria, fusarium, brown rust, and powdery mildew. The yield potential reaches 8.1 t/ha, with average yields around 82 c/ha. Sowing rate is 5 million seeds per hectare, with 1000-grain weight of 39–42 g. Grain quality is characterized by high protein content (13.2–13.8%) and crude gluten (28.3–32.4%), ensuring good baking properties with ratings of 4.4–4.8 points. The variety is resistant to lodging and shattering, which helps preserve yield and improves processing characteristics. Odesska Blue is the result of selection work by the Selection-Genetic Institute and registered in 2011, confirming its modernity and adaptability to the agroclimatic conditions of the region.