Scientific and Practical Seminar "Overwintering of Winter Cereals and Features of Spring Field Work in 2026"
On March 25, 2026, the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry hosted an inter-laboratory scientific and practical seminar organized by the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS in collaboration with its Ustymivka Experimental Station of Plant Production. The seminar was dedicated to "Overwintering of Winter Cereals and Features of Spring Field Work in 2026."
The seminar was attended by O. S. Fedyshyna, Head of Division at the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration; O. O. Isaienko, Deputy Director of the Kharkiv Branch of the Ukrainian Institute for Plant Variety Examination (UIPVE); and research staff from various laboratories of the Institute (Plant Physiology and Biochemistry; Wheat Breeding; Seed Science and Production; Immunity, Biotechnology and Quality; Triticale Breeding and Genetics; Winter Rye Breeding and Genetics; Plant Production and Variety Investigations; and the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine). The Director and researchers of Ustymivka Experimental Station of Plant Production participated via video conference.
In her presentation, Dr. N. I. Riabchun, Chief Researcher at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, outlined the growth, development, and overwintering conditions of winter cereals during the 2025–2026 growing season. Favorable weather for overwintering prevailed in December and January. According to the Kharkiv Regional Center for Hydrometeorology, precipitation in January was predominantly snow, with snow cover across the region ranging from 1 to 15 cm. A porous, 2–3-layered ice crust (1.7–2.5 cm thick with snow-filled gaps) formed in some fields, particularly in micro-relief depressions. Soil freezing depth reached 70–75 cm in northern districts and 37–64 cm across the rest of the region. During the first ten-day period of January, minimum air temperatures dropped to -19...-25 °C. Soil temperature at the tillering node depth of winter wheat (3 cm) dropped to -7...-12 °C. This remained above the critical freezing temperature, which—based on direct freezing tests of winter wheat cultivars under controlled conditions at the Institute—was determined to be -17.0...-17.5 °C for tillered Ukrainian cultivars, and -14.0...-16.0 °C for moderately frost-tolerant cultivars. For winter triticale and winter rye cultivars, this threshold ranged from -18.0 to -19.5 °C. However, for poorly developed wheat plants and cultivars unadapted to the conditions of the northeastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, the critical freezing temperature ranged from -12.5 to -14.5 °C (and down to -11.0 °C for certain cultivars), raising concerns regarding crop viability in snow-scarce or snowless areas.
Institute researchers inspected winter crop fields within the Institute's scientific crop rotation and across commercial farms in the region. Monoliths and plant samples were collected for express-method regrowth tests and carbohydrate content analysis in winter wheat tillering nodes. Results indicated that temperature drops in late January and February caused virtually no damage to domestic winter crop cultivars, especially in fields with snow cover exceeding 10 cm. Plants from these fields regrew vigoriously, forming new turgid leaves and secondary roots despite partial dieback of aboveground biomass, showing a viability rate of 92–96% living shoots. Soluble carbohydrate content in tillering nodes of well-developed plants was 29–33% of dry matter (21–28% in untillered plants). In fields with thinner snow cover, leaf blade damage (2–8 cm) was noted, along with partial shoot loss and noticeable thinning in fields sown with foreign cultivars not recommended for the region.
Prof. Yu. Ye. Kolupaiev, Head of the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, highlighted the importance of advanced biochemical research into mechanisms of crop tolerance to abiotic winter and spring-summer stressors, particularly drought. He emphasized the role of dehydrins—multifunctional proteins acting as chaperones due to K-segments that prevent protein aggregation. Their cryoprotective properties stem from functional groups that electrostatically interact with negatively charged membrane phospholipids, maintaining lipid bilayer fluidity, preventing membrane fusion, and enhancing winter crop adaptability.
O. S. Fedyshyna reported that winter cereal acreage in the Kharkiv region increased by 2.8% year-over-year in 2026, with winter wheat accounting for 97% of the total area. Despite a challenging winter, prolonged ice crusting (over a month), and low temperatures, most winter crops survived. However, the transition from winter to spring poses risks: temperature fluctuations can deplete plant reserves, potentially reducing yield potential. Resume of spring vegetation and secondary root formation were recorded across most of the region between March 15 and March 23. She also announced that under growing weather variability and wartime challenges, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine is launching a new state support program to protect farmers from yield-loss financial risks and stabilize agricultural production.
O. O. Isaienko emphasized the critical role of official state variety testing for crops recommended in Ukraine and the Kharkiv region. Providing agronomists with reliable data on yield potential, stress tolerance, and crop management requirements enables objective variety selection tailored to specific farm conditions.
Dr. V. K. Riabchun, Head of the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine (NCPGRU), noted that effective breeding and high-quality starting materials are decisive for sustainable yield performance. The trait collections and databases maintained by NCPGRU serve as vital resources and are extensively used by breeders of the Institute and other breeding, research, and educational institutions of Ukraine.
Dr. O. Yu. Leonov, Head of the Laboratory of Wheat Breeding, stressed the importance of selecting regionally adapted winter wheat cultivars developed by the Yuriev Plant Production Institute, such as 'Zapashna', 'Zdobna', 'Pryvitna', 'Harmonika', 'Krasa Laniv', 'Prynada', 'Vyhadka', 'Metelytsia Kharkivska', 'Haiok', and recent releases including 'Pronia', 'Maliovanka', 'Melashka', 'Malusha', 'Mizynka', 'Yednannia', and 'Hazda'. Among winter triticale cultivars, 'Rarytet', 'Zlatoust', 'Tymofii', and 'Yelan' demonstrated high winter hardiness and productivity.
Dr. D. K. Yehorov, Head of the Laboratory of Winter Rye Breeding and Genetics, presented new winter rye cultivars and hybrids ('Stoir', 'Nyva Voloshkova', 'Aivenho', 'Kharkivskyi Patron'), highlighting their high adaptability, yield capacity, and farmers’ growing interest in and commercial demand for both cultivars and hybrids of this valuable crop.
Dr. S. I. Popov, Head of the Department of Plant Production and Variety Investigation, emphasized the importance of timely spring nitrogen fertilization, as nitrate leaching depleted nutrients in the root zone. A crucial aspect of securing winter cereal yields is strict adherence to cultivation technologies, taking into account the post-overwintering plant condition, as well as moisture and nutrient availability. He provided recommendations on fertilizer application rates and timing based on crop status and target grain yield and quality.
Plant protection strategies against weeds, diseases, and pests were presented by Dr. R. A. Hutianskyi and Dr. N. V. Kuzmenko. Dr. Z. V. Usova, Head of the Laboratory of Immunity, Biotechnology, and Quality, outlined requirements for high-quality grain formation and commercial quality grades.
Contributions to the discussion were also made by Dr. K. Yu. Suvorova, Dr. V. V. Pozdniakov, and researchers O. V. Antsyferova and S. M. Voloshyna.
Reports on winter crop conditions at Ustymivka Experimental Station were presented by Dr. Yu. V. Kharchenko (Acting Director), Dr. O. V. Tryhub (Deputy Director), and S. M. Karaibida (Deputy Director). They noted excellent viability and vigorous development of the Institute's winter wheat cultivars 'Vyhadka', 'Mavka', 'Rozkishna', and 'Novosmuhlianka' sown within various timeframes and after different forecrops. 'Vyhadka' sown after soybean displayed exceptional vigor (98–100% plant survival, 3 shoots per plant, well-developed autumn root system, and active secondary root growth). Later-sown fields developed 1–2 well-formed shoots with active spring secondary rooting. 'Mavka' (super-elite seed after pea) showed 3 shoots per plant with strong autumn leaf canopy and secondary root development. Looking ahead, such crop stands—featuring plants equipped with a well-developed root system capable of actively supplying nutrients to photosynthetic organs, growth cones, and eventually to spikes and caryopses—will form a robust and highly productive agrocenosis yielding high-quality grain.
Winter rye cultivar 'Khamarka' (after sunflower) exhibited slightly uneven growth, but maintained 100% viability and sufficient root development to form additional tillers under favorable weather. Since rye is less demanding and highly resilient to environmental stresses, it is capable of producing an average yield.
Winter oilseed rape cultivar 'Buchanskyi', sown after spring barley in early September 2025, formed 5–7 true leaves in autumn, which enabled most plants to withstand adverse overwintering conditions. The root collar and apical bud of these plants remain alive, which, given favorable conditions in the subsequent period, will allow for the formation of a good yield of rapeseed.
Based on plant regrowth evaluation, field photo/video surveys, and tillering node sugar content data, participants concluded that as spring vegetation resumed in 2026, winter cereals and rapeseed were predominantly in satisfactory to good condition. However, given the weakened state of late-sown fields, special priority must be given to timely spring nitrogen application. To secure stable, high yields across the region, farms are advised to rely primarily on locally adapted cultivars and to expand acreage under winter rye and winter triticale.