Potential ecological implications of extensive cereal rye cover cropping in the United States

Authors: PUROHIT, NISITH - Auburn University; GHOSH, RAKESH - Auburn University; MAITY, ANIRUDDHA - Auburn University; Price, Andrew

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) is one of the widely grown introduced small grain cover crop in United States. The rapid domestication of cereal rye for weed management has raised the concern of its invasiveness as one of the major ecological implications. Cereal rye has higher chances of weediness as compared to other small grain crops like wheat and barley due to unintentional human selection and domestication during the process of evolution, which has reduced the genetic diversity in cereal rye. Furthermore, continuous geneflow due to cross-pollinating nature and incomplete speciation among the Secale spp. has resulted in incorporation of weedy characters like delayed flowering and shattering seed head from wild ancestors and feral rye. The incorporation of weedy alleles has enabled cereal rye to overcome all the barriers of invasive characteristics, making it a better competitor for resources like nutrient and water as compared to most field crops. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the invasive potential of cereal rye and implement effective management strategies to mitigate its invasiveness, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and preventing ecological disruptions.

Technical Abstract: Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) is one of the widely grown introduced small grain cover crop in United States. The rapid domestication of cereal rye for weed management has raised the concern of its invasiveness as one of the major ecological implications. Cereal rye has higher chances of weediness as compared to other small grain crops like wheat and barley due to unintentional human selection and domestication during the process of evolution, which has reduced the genetic diversity in cereal rye. Furthermore, continuous geneflow due to cross-pollinating nature and incomplete speciation among the Secale spp. has resulted in incorporation of weedy characters like delayed flowering and shattering seed head from wild ancestors and feral rye. The incorporation of weedy alleles has enabled cereal rye to overcome all the barriers of invasive characteristics, making it a better competitor for resources like nutrient and water as compared to most field crops. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the invasive potential of cereal rye and implement effective management strategies to mitigate its invasiveness, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and preventing ecological disruptions.