Rye

Rye

Secale cereale L.

Family- Poaceae

The four important bread cereals viz. wheat, barley, oat and rye- have a common centre of origin in Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, highlands of Turkmenistan and the adjacent regions upto the shores of the Black and Caspian seas. These areas constitute the primary centre of origin of the genus Secale as a whole represented by. a number of polymorphic species, each having a multitude of varieties, races and forms (Deodikar, G.b., 1963). In addition to this primary centre, there  isa secondary centre of concentrated diversity mainly for Secale cereale L. and a few very closely allied species in Central Asia including north-Western India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Western Tian-Shan (Vavilov, 1951).

Botanical varieties

Antropov et al. (1936, 1939, 1948) have differentiated and characterised over 40 botanical varieties or forms of the cultivated rye, S. cereale L. based on morphological, ecological and other biological features.

Botany of the plant

Stem tall, dwarf or medium, tillering profusely or sparsely, compact or loose, erect or prostrate. In colour green, light green, red, brown, purple, yellow or white, with or without a coat waxy bloom, nodes 4-6 or more. The inflorescence is a spike. Cuik and Kuzjamia (1954) reported a type of rye with a six rowed panicle- a character normally found in barley. Rye flowers are normally cross-pollinated. The ripe grains may be shattering or non shredding, free or attached to the palea, making it easy or difficult to dehisce. They may be bolder or slender, longer or shorter, narrow or broad, laterally compressed or bulging on one or both sides.

Cytogenetics

According to Darlington and Wylie (1955), all known species of Secale have n=7 and 2n=14 as the normal number plus occasional presence of accessory chromosomes in variable numbers. Hybridization among Secale species is fairly high and the fertility of such hybrids is also relatively much higher.

Wild Ryes

The centres of origin of Secale contain highly polymorphic wild populations of rye. Liguleless forms occur near Pamir. The Pamir and Badahsan areas also contain giant forms of rye with large anthers and grains. In the Caucasus, wild forms are perennial to annual, winter or spring types, early, productive, long-eared, long-grained with adherent glumes. There are also forms with grains large or small in size, elongated, oval or spherical in shape and coloured yellow, green, red, purple, dark and variegated, or colourless white. Many of these wild, species can be cultivated. In Turkey, rye exists both as a weed and as a pure crop.

Intergeneric hybridization

The natural wheat-rye hybrids have been known for nearly a century. The first successful attempt for their artificial production was made by Wilson as early as 1875. Now, rye has been crossed with diploid wheats, tetraploid wheats, hexaploid wheats, Agropyron, barley etc., for obtaining high yielding and drought resistant hybrids. The main objective of wheat-rye hybridization seems to be to combine earliness, poor-soil adaptability and resistance to cold and drought of rye with the yield and grain qualities of of wheat. The new cereal obtained by crossing wheat and rye is named as Triticale (Triticale hexaploides Lart.) 

Relative merits of Rye

• It is the only cereal, other than wheat, that can be used for raised bread with pure and mixed flours and such rye-wheat breads provide the only outlet for low grade wheat flours.
• It provides the daily bread to a. vast population in areas where natural conditions provide no alternative.
• It is the only grain crop that can be found profitably grown on sterile sandy and acidic soils and is, therefore, an important pioneer crop for waste land utilisation.
• It shows the maximum resistance to cold and drought.
• It has the maximum capacity to combat weeds and so is indispensable in crop rotations.
• Its cultural requirements are very modest. It occupies vast areas where nothing else can be profitably grown (Deodikar G.B., 1963).
• Rye along with oats is grown on lands of increased fertility, whereas wheat and barley are grown on lands of static or declining fertility.

Ecology

Rye is essentially a cold weather crop and produces satisfactory crops in regions of severe winter temperatures and high altitudes. Among cereals rye is the least exacting n its soil requirements and can thrive well on sandy or loamy soils. It can withstand considerable soil acidity and alkalinity.

Rye Grain

The chemical composition of rye grain is moisture 11.0, protein 12.1, fat 1.7, fibre 2.0, total carbohydrates 73.4 and ash 1.8%; minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, iron and iodine, zinc, copper, manganese and aluminium are present in traces. 

Vitamins: thiamine, 0.37, riboflavin, 0.15, nicotinic acid 1.0, vitamin B6 0.31, and pantothenic acid, 1.0 mg/100g (Wu Leung & Flores, 1961, Windson and Winton, 1935). Rye proteins are made up of 42 percent gliadin (a prolamine), 42 percent glutelin, 8 percent globulin and 8 percent albumin.

The essential amino acids of protein are arginine 4.3, histidine 1.7, lysine 4.2, tryptophan 1.3, phenylalanine 5.6, methionine 1.3, threonine 3.0, leucine 6.2, isoleucine 4.0 and valine 5.0g/16 gN (Kent Jones & Atmos, 1957).

Uses

 

In the eastern European countries rye is cultivated for its grain which is used chiefly for bread. Rye bread is dark coloured and soggy and has bitter flavour. Rye biscuits are popular in some countries and rye types with high protein content are used for this purpose. Rye is also used for making flat bread, porridge and alcoholic products. In USA rye is largely utilised for producing whiskey. 

Rye hay is coarse and lacks palatability. If rye is to be used as hay, it should be cut when it is in bloom.

Rye crop is cultivated in Nilgiri hills for obtaining medicinal ergot, by infecting the flowers of plant with fungus inoculum of Claviceps sp.

Rye can also be grown as a green manure crop.

 

Diseases

Blight caused by Gibberella saubinetii (Mont.) Sacc. has been observed in Assam, the ears being infected.