Russello or Priziusa is one of the oldest varieties of Sicilian durum wheat. Typical of the Sicilian hinterland, it is cultivated mainly in the areas of Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Palermo, Ragusa and Trapani. It’s a grain of medium precocity sowing and late ripening which was very common in Sicily before the Second World War.
It is necessary to distinguish Russello ibleo, which is cultivated in the provinces of Ragusa and Syracuse, from Russello or Priziusa which instead is cultivated in the rest of Sicily. Probably the first one comes from Ruscia which was replaced for the greater yield and precocity. The second one instead was classified by De Cillis who described Russello as particularly resembling to Regina, Sammartinara, Ruscia and Dauno and reported the fallowing names as synonms: Tangarò, Taganrog, Russulidda, Preziosa, Rossetta, Russia, Red Sammartinara, Red Giant, Urrulia, Riga.
Initially it was believed that the names Tangarò and Taganrog were given as synonyms becausethis grain could derive from the Russian grain Taganrog. Supported by geneticist Francesco D'Amato, this hypothesis has however been excluded.
Russello or Priziusa has a very long vitreous amber caryopsis. It is a plant that is characterized by strong roots suitable for shallow soils.
Rossello Ibleo is today cultivated in Sicily especially in the province of Ragusa to be mainly used for the local production of flour for bread.
In January 1997 an agreement was signed between the Regional Province of Ragusa and the University of Catania for a three-year research programme on the establishment and bioagronomic evaluation of the Rossello Ibleo variety. It has been articulated in agronomic tests, in fields of genetic selection and in technological laboratory tests for the evaluation of the semoline characteristics. The nucleus of the seed was selected and it is still preserved and reproduced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the University of Catania.