Wheat of the 'Unity' variety is a national standard and benchmark among winter wheat varieties. This variety was developed through individual selection in F2 from a crossbreeding population of the 'Shestopalivka' and 'Borovinka-1' varieties, and belongs to the erythrospermum type. It is characterized by a medium-early ripening time and high yield, reaching 9.1-9.4 tons per hectare, confirmed by an average yield of 84.8 c/ha over three years of variety trials. Plant height ranges from 92-104 cm, and the 1000-grain weight varies from 42 to 45 grams. Protein content in the grain ranges from 11.8-13.4%, ensuring good baking and milling qualities.
The 'Unity' variety exhibits high resistance to various adverse factors. It is resistant to lodging, shattering, root rot, as well as to septoria and powdery mildew, with resistance ratings of 7-8 points. Resistance to fusarium is rated 5-6 points, and to rust — 4-5 points. Additionally, the variety demonstrates high resistance to soil and air drought, heat tolerance, and cold hardiness, making it a reliable choice for cultivation across various climatic zones of Ukraine, including Polissia, forest-steppe, and steppe.
In June 2019, a new standard DSTU 3768:2019 was introduced, optimizing the regulatory framework for the production, collection, storage, processing, and trade of soft and hard wheat. This standard increases requirements for grain quality, modifies classification, and introduces new methods for determining indicators, which contributes to improved quality control for the 'Unity' variety and other wheat varieties grown in Ukraine.
