The Orlea soybean variety is an early-maturing and high-yield variety, developed by the Federal Scientific Center for Grain Legumes and registered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2024. This variety was created by individual selection from the Mezenka × Alice hybrid population and is recommended for cultivation in the Central and Central-Black Earth regions, including the Tulskaya and Lipetsk oblasts. Orlea is characterized by a determinate growth type of the stem, average plant height of 75 to 93 cm, and early flowering. The vegetative period varies from 96 to 114 days depending on the region, which ensures accelerated growth rates and early crop maturation.
The variety is distinguished by high yield: maximum indicators reached 5.36 t/ha in variety trials and 3.71 t/ha in the Lipetsk oblast in 2023. The average yield in the Central region is about 25.3 c/ha, and in the Central-Black Earth region — up to 30.8 c/ha. Seeds of the variety have yellow coloration with a yellow hilum, and the mass of 1000 seeds varies within 157-178 g. Orlea possesses resistance to lodging and shattering, which helps preserve the yield and facilitates its harvesting.
Special attention is paid to grain quality characteristics: protein content reaches 41-43%, and fat content — 18.4-21.9%, which makes the variety attractive for the production of vegetarian products, protein, and feeds. High protein and fat content combined with early maturation and resistance to unfavorable growing conditions make Orlea a promising choice for farmers focused on efficient and quality soybean production.