SARATOVSKOE 3 — a mid-maturing grain millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) variety, distinguished by high productivity and grain quality. The plants are medium-height with strong stems and a compressed, moderately drooping panicle. The grain is round, yellow in color, with dark cream or dark yellow glumes. The mass of 1000 grains varies from 7.5 to 9 grams. The vegetative period ranges from 64 to 94 days, allowing the variety to be grown in various climatic conditions.
The variety is adapted to harsh arid regions and is characterized by high resistance to lodging, shattering, melanosis, and head smut diseases. Thanks to its tolerance to unfavorable climatic factors, SARATOVSKOE 3 is successfully cultivated across a wide range of regions in Russia, including the Central, Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Lower Volga, Ural, Western Siberia, Eastern Siberia, and the Far East. The maximum yield achieved in the Rostov region was 5.9 tons/ha, with an average yield of about 2.1-5 tons/ha.
The grain of the variety possesses high technological and culinary qualities, as well as an increased content of carotenoid pigments, making it valuable for the food industry. The economic efficiency of growing the variety ranges from 5,500 to 8,000 rubles per hectare. SARATOVSKOE 3 is the result of breeding by the Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture of the South-East and was registered in the Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2009.