WINTER SOFT WHEAT
Originator — Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine
Registered in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine in 2010 for cultivation in the Polissia, Forest-Steppe, and Steppe zones of Ukraine.
Biological characteristics: medium-maturing, early-maturing, vegetation period 280-287 days. Resistant to lodging. Enhanced winter hardiness, drought-resistant variety. Resistant to powdery mildew and moderately resistant to brown rust. Resistant to germination of grain in ears and shattering. Variety type — erythrospermum.
Grain quality: excellent milling and baking properties. Grain of the Natalka variety contains 14.5–16.3% protein, 31.7–33.9% crude gluten, flour strength 324–573 N, loaf volume from 100 g of flour 1170–1440 ml, baking quality score 8.5–8.9 points. Flour from this variety should be used for baking high-quality bread products.
Agronomic characteristics: high-yielding, intensive type. According to the originator (Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine), during the competitive trials (2007–2009), the average yield of the Natalka variety was 84.0 centners per hectare, exceeding the standard by 4.9 centners per hectare.
Grain yield in the State Variety Testing (2007–2009) in 65 variety trials ranged from 50.3 to 93.6 centners per hectare.
Significant yield increases of the Natalka variety compared to national standards — 5.0–26.4 centners per hectare achieved in 23 variety trials, including 10.0–26.4 centners per hectare in 11 trials across 15 regions of Ukraine covering the Steppe, Forest-Steppe, and Polissia (Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi).
Maximum yield of the variety was 93.6 centners per hectare recorded at the Khmelnytskyi State Center for Plant Variety Testing and Experimental Agricultural Production (Kyiv region) — 92.4 centners per hectare.
Agronomic requirements: universal use variety. Can be sown after any preceding crop, using intensive technologies with optimal doses of mineral fertilizers. On high mineral nutrition levels, to prevent lodging, growth regulators should be applied.
To achieve high grain yields, plants should also be protected 2–3 times 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 urea N 10–15 kg per hectare should be conducted during the heading — milk ripeness phase.
Seed sowing rate: 4.5–5.5 million viable seeds per hectare depending on region and moisture availability.
