Rye has a place with the grass family Gramineae and the variety Secale. The most well-known developed species is S. cereale, which is ventured to have advanced from the wild enduring grass of the species S. montanum. Developed rye contains seven sets of chromosomes having a place with a solitary genome assigned by the letter R.
In contrast to the circumstance in wheat, the quantity of economically developed rye assortments (cultivars) is moderately little. Rye cross-pollinates broadly and is, accordingly, hard to keep up with hereditary virtue.