WINTER SOFT WHEAT
Originator: Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine.
Registered in the Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine in 2012 for cultivation in the Steppe, Forest-Steppe and Polesie regions of Ukraine.
Biological characteristics: the variety Azure is medium-maturing, vegetation period — 269-280 days. Medium-height variety, plants height — 91-94 cm, resistant to lodging (7.9-8.6 points) and shattering (8.3-8.9 points). Weakly affected by main diseases and pests. Has enhanced winter and drought resistance (8.8 points). Resistant to grain germination in ears. Variety type — erythrospermum.
Grain quality: milling and baking properties are good. The grain of the variety Azure contains 14.5-15.3% protein, 30.7-33.9% crude gluten. Classified as a valuable wheat.
Agronomic characteristics: according to the data from the originator (IFRG NAS of Ukraine), during the test years (2008-2011), the average yield of Azure was 88.1 c/ha (including 101.3 c/ha in 2009), which exceeds the national standard yield by 12.6 c/ha.
Average yield in the Steppe region during the State Testing years (2009-2011) was 57.6 c/ha, in the Forest-Steppe region — 66.6 c/ha, Polesie — 57.6 c/ha. Guaranteed bonus over national standard 4.8-6.2 c/ha.
Significant yield increases of the variety Azure over the national standard — 4.4-31.4 c/ha — were obtained in 11 variety trials, including increases of 8.5-31.4 c/ha in 10 variety trials across 10 regions of Ukraine, covering the Steppe, Forest-Steppe and Polesie (Volyn, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad).
In ecological trials at the Center for Variety Testing and Evaluation (Kyiv region, city of Belaya Tserkva), the yield of the variety was 85.9 c/ha, which is 10.6 c/ha higher than the national standard.
Maximum yield of the variety — 103.0 c/ha — was obtained in 2011 at the Vinnytsia State Expert Center in Vinnytsia region.
Agronomic requirements: a universal variety. It can be planted after any preceding crop, using intensive technologies with optimal doses of mineral fertilizers. On high mineral nutrition backgrounds, to prevent lodging, retardants should be applied.
To obtain high grain yields, it is also necessary to conduct 2-3 applications of protection against pests and diseases, especially after heading, using fungicides such as Alto Super, Falcon or Folikur.
To obtain high-quality grain, a third foliar application of carbamide N 10-15 kg active ingredient per hectare in the heading — milk ripeness phase is required.
Sowing rate — 4.5-5.0 million viable seeds per hectare, depending on the region and moisture supply.
