German researchers have mapped the genome for rye and are
making it publicly available.
Eva Bauer, a
plant researcher at the Technical University of Munich and lead author of the
study, says rye has received less attention than wheat, barley and maize, which
are more widely cultivated.
This meant
there was less funding from industry to sequence the rye genome, which is about
250 per cent larger than the human genome.
Bauer said
Monday that rye's ability to cope with droughts, poor soil and resist frost —
which makes it popular in the colder climates of Central and Eastern Europe —
is of particular interest for future research.
It was research
in Canada that led to crossing of wheat and rye to create Triticale.
The hope, which
has yet to be realized, was that the best genes of each could be combined to
produce a high-yielding hardy grain that would be profitable for farmers and
excellent nutrition for consumers, livestock and poultry.
