Sorghum «Odesia 302» is a Ukrainian grain crop variety developed at the Selection and Genetics Institute of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine in the city of Odesa. It is the result of hybridization of bread sorghum and rice-grain forms and has been included in the national standard of Ukraine since 1995. The crop is grown in the central belt and also suits dry and warm climates, which makes it universal for various regions of the country.
Sorghum grain has a light yellow color, an oval-round shape, and dimensions of 3.5–4.0 mm. Physical characteristics include bulk density 790–850 g/l, mass of 1000 grains 25–36 g, glassiness 75–95 %, and hardness 28–36 standard units. The chemical composition is characterized by protein 12–15 %, non-nitrogenous substances 66–75 %, fats 4.5 %, fiber 1.6–2.7 % and minerals 4–6 %. These parameters ensure high processing technology and significant nutritional value.
Groats from «Odesia 302» have a pale yellow color, a high level of glassiness, and contain protein 9–14 % and starch 75–80 %. It surpasses wheat groats in potassium and manganese content, which makes it a valuable ingredient for diet, children's, and geriatric nutrition. The variety is widely used in the production of breakfast cereals, soups, side dishes, pilaf, and stuffed cabbage, as well as in the production of extruded groats with a neutral color and crunchy texture without a grain flavor. Due to high heterosis and self-renewability, «Odesia 302» ensures stable yield – up to 50 c/ha in optimal conditions and not less than 30 c/ha in severely dry areas. This makes it a reliable choice for agricultural producers and the food industry, which value quality, technology, and consumer health.
