Merежka — this is an early winter soft wheat, developed by Cherkasy DSFGDS NNC «IZ NAAN» and registered in the Ukrainian Plant Variety Register in 2018. The variety is recommended for cultivation in the forest-steppe and Polissia regions. It is characterized by a medium-height plant type with plant height ranging from 73 to 98 cm, upright plant habit, and a dense, semi-spike-like ear of approximately 7.5 cm in length. The grain is red-colored, large, weighing 45–49 g per 1000 grains, with an egg-shaped form. The vegetation period lasts approximately 289–295 days, making the variety medium-early maturing.
The Merежka variety is distinguished by high winter hardiness (8–9 points), cold resistance, and drought resistance at the 8-point level, ensuring stable yields under various climatic conditions. It is resistant to a complex of diseases, including powdery mildew, septoria, fusarium ear disease, brown and stem rust, as well as to lodging, grain shattering, and germination in the ear. The variety responds well to mineral fertilizer application and tolerates high nutrient doses, which contributes to high yields.
The yield of this variety ranges from 9.7 to 10.8 t/ha. The grain has high quality characteristics: protein content varies from 13.1% to 14%, and gluten content ranges from 26.4% to 32%. The milling and baking properties are good, with flour strength reaching 310–320 units, and bread volume ranging from 620 to 1080 mm, meeting the requirements of premium wheat. These characteristics make Merежka a versatile variety suitable for intensive cultivation and use in the baking industry.
