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Crop models are valuable tools for simulating and assessing genotype‐by‐environment interactions. In most studies, these models are parameterized based on crop data from a few sites and years, which often limits their applicability to a broader geographic context. Therefore, we utilize countrywide multi‐environment variety trial data in this study to implement a genotype‐specific model parameterization for winter rye (Secale cerealeL.) in Germany. We use the Crop and Environment REsource Synthesis (CERES) model originally used for wheat available in the decision support system for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT) framework and adapt and evaluate it for rye. Calibration and evaluation involved a comprehensive agronomic trial datasets for the rye cultivar Palazzo, encompassing 194 site‐years of experiments covering various cereal production regions in Germany. The parameterization followed a structured approach, encompassing phenology, growth, and yield‐specific coefficients. The parameterized CSM‐CERES‐Rye (where CSM is cropping system model) demonstrated reasonable accuracy in simulating critical crop parameters, including aboveground biomass, leaf area index, tiller, grain number, unit seed weight, and grain yield. The model is available for diverse model‐based assessments of rye cultivation, including evaluating crop management, analyzing crop rotations, and assessing rye's suitability across varied environments, making it valuable for sustainable agriculture and decision‐making. Adapting DSSAT‐CSM‐CERES‐Wheat (where DSSAT is decision support system for agrotechnology transfer, CSM is cropping system model, and CERES is crop and environment resource synthesis) for cereal rye using comprehensive data from German plant variety trials for the first time.A structured sequential method was employed for model parameterization.The model enables essential analyses, including crop management, rotations, and suitability assessments.

Rye (Secale cerealeL.) is an exceptionally climate-resilient cereal crop, used extensively to produce improved wheat varieties via introgressive hybridization and possessing the entire repertoire of genes necessary to enable hybrid breeding. Rye is allogamous and only recently domesticated, thus giving cultivated ryes access to a diverse and exploitable wild gene pool. To further enhance the agronomic potential of rye, we produced a chromosome-scale annotated assembly of the 7.9-gigabase rye genome and extensively validated its quality by using a suite of molecular genetic resources. We demonstrate applications of this resource with a broad range of investigations. We present findings on cultivated rye’s incomplete genetic isolation from wild relatives, mechanisms of genome structural evolution, pathogen resistance, low-temperature tolerance, fertility control systems for hybrid breeding and the yield benefits of rye–wheat introgressions.

Climate change will have an influence on crop production and lead to a focus on stable and high‐yielding varieties in breeding programs. Winter rye (Secale cerealeL.) is an important crop in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in marginal environments where varying weather conditions have a strong impact on grain yield. Because these environments are the first to suffer from abiotic stress, yield stability is an important breeding goal for rye. The objectives were to evaluate phenotypic diversity for genotype by irrigation interaction (GII) and the potential of hybrid rye to combine high yield potential with superior yield stability. Two intrapool and one interpool population with each of 218 to 220 testcross progenies were grown in a total of 16 to 18 environments (location by year combinations). In six of these environments, managed drought stress trials (rainfed vs. irrigated) were conducted. We observed a wide range of grain yield, from 4.9 to 11.5 Mg ha−1. In the managed drought stress experiments yield reduction in the rainfed regime ranged from 2 to 41% with an average of 18%. Only in a few environments did significant GII occur, although in most environments yield reduction was significant. Genotypic correlations of grain yield between irrigated and rainfed regimes were generally high (0.8–1.0). The coefficient of linear regression (bi) was not significantly different from 1 among progenies. Mean square deviation from linear regression (S2di), however, varied significantly (P< 0.01). To ensure broad adaptability of germplasm, managed drought stress environments should be included in test environments, but they need no special selection procedures. In conclusion, modern rye breeding material already combines high yield potential and stability.