Influence of crop management on stability rye yield and some grain quality traits

The study explored the performance of hybrid and population rye (Secale cereale) cultivars under two different crop management intensities in Poland: moderate‐intensity and high‐intensity management. The focus was grain yield, grain quality, yield components, and variety stability in two growing seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) at three locations. Hybrid cultivars consistently yielded higher grain yields (9.81 t ha−1) than population cultivars (7.90 t ha−1), with increase of 24.9%. However, hybrid cultivars had lower protein content (8.94%) than population cultivars (9.77%). Spike number was the most influential factor on yield, followed by 1000‐grain weight and grains per spike, regardless of cultivar type. Hybrid cultivars displayed a lower degree of stability as assessed using the ranking sum of the Shukla variance and the multi‐trait stability index. Hybrid cultivars were strongly dependent on resistance to fungal diseases, including Septoria (Mycosphaerella graminicola), and increased stability under moderate‐intensity management. Resistance to soil acidification became more important for cultivar stability under high‐intensity management. Core Ideas Hybrid rye cultivars have higher grain yields compared to population cultivars but lower protein content. There were no major differences in the influence of yield component conditions between the two cultivar types. Hybrid cultivars show a lower degree of grain yield stability than population rye cultivars. Strongly affecting the stability of rye is resistance to fungal diseases and aluminum activity in the soil.