Breeding cereal rye (Secale cereale) for quality traits

Abstract

Cereal rye (Secale cereale) is a multi‐purpose crop, harvested for grain (for food, feed, and other products) as well as used as a forage or cover crop. The functionality of rye across these spheres is due to its abiotic and biotic stress tolerance and unique phytochemical composition. In this review, we focus on the current state and prospects of breeding rye for quality traits, where we define quality traits as grain, feed, or forage quality. Rye grain for human consumption has numerous healthful compounds, notably high dietary fiber content in grain and unique flavors that contribute to the signature properties of rye baked products and distilled spirits. As a forage, rye is useful in marginal environments and has high quality, including high crude protein, and is thus valuable for livestock production. While yield remains a major focus of breeding efforts, due to recent improvements in rye genomic and phenotypic resources, there are now opportunities for increased attention on breeding high‐quality ryes for multiple end uses. Through genetic improvement of quality traits, cereal rye has the potential to expand and serve multiple markets as a climate‐resilient crop.

Influence of Nitrogen Fertilisation Level and Weather Conditions on Yield and Quantitative Profile of Anti-Nutritional Compounds in Grain of Selected Rye Cultivars

“…Products made from rye flour, especially whole-grain flour, are characterised by their high nutritional and health-promoting values [3]. Ongoing breeding work focused on improving grain yield and quality further increases the potential for the use of rye grain in both human and animal nutrition [4]. The breeding of new cultivars aims to increase grain yield and quality by using cultivars with stable yields under variable climatic conditions [5].…”

“…A significant proportion of rye grain is used in the feeding of various animal species; mainly pigs and poultry [4]. However, a limitation to its wider use is its content of antinutritional substances that have a negative impact on animal health and development.…”

Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic and expression pattern analyses of EPF/EPFL family genes in the Rye (Secale cereale L.)

“…L, 2n = 2x = 14, genome RR), a member of the Triticeae tribe of the Poaceae, is widely recognized as a significant crop for bread making and feed forage, with a particular focus on central and northeastern Europe [ 1 ]. It is valued for its high carbohydrate content and contains quantity of protein, potassium, B vitamins, lignans, ferulic acid, alkylpolysechenol, and prebiotics [ 2 ]. Notably, rye plants exhibit vigorous growth, exceptional tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses, and the ability to thrive in unfavorable soil conditions and cold climates [ 3 ].…”