All schoolchildren are familiar with the names of crops such as wheat and rye. True, in these plants almost do not see the differences, although they are, and very significant. Read about them in the article.
Wheat
Speaking about how rye differs from wheat, it is necessary first of all to give information about these crops. So, wheat is one of the most popular cereal plants. It can be grown either one or two years. As a rule, it reaches a height of thirty centimeters to one and a half meters.
This plant belongs to the "three loaves of humanity." Since wheat can be different (hard and soft, spring and winter), it is widely used on the farm. This plant is used in the food and drug industries. Bakery, pasta, cereals and animal feed are all made from wheat. In addition, individual parts of the spikelet go to the creation of alcohol, immunomodulators and rejuvenation products.
This plant is first mentioned in the Gospel and some divine parables. Perhaps this influenced such a respectful attitude to this culture. It is believed that it began to turn an agricultural plant about 8-6 thousand years BC. Currently, there is a huge variety of wheat varieties. These include both world-grown forms and local ones. Not all of them are officially studied and listed in the varieties of this agricultural plant.
Rye
In the process of answering the question: "What is the difference between rye and wheat?" it is necessary to describe the second plant. Rye is the second most popular crop, which is also one of the "three loaves of humanity." It is widely used in the food industry. Bran bread, which is made using rye flour, is a popular dietary product whose value is recognized around the world. In addition, animals are happy to eat the sprouts of this culture.
Rye is grown for one year or several years in a row. This plant reaches sixty centimeters in height. The maximum height of the culture is two meters. It can be both spring and winter.
This plant ceased to be wild about two thousand years ago. Since that time, numerous varieties of rye have appeared, which are grown almost everywhere. The fact is that this crop is unpretentious to environmental conditions, and especially to cold weather. Therefore, it is grown in large quantities on the territory of Russia and Ukraine.
Similarities
Of course, rye and wheat have a number of differences, but they also have similarities that are manifested in the external structure, cultivation and even the history of these plants. For instance:
- There are both winter and spring forms of these crops. This allows people in agriculture to grow crops at the most suitable time for this.
- Powerful root system. The fibrous roots descend into the ground by two meters.
- What is the difference between rye and wheat? The structure of the ear. Despite the fact that the ears of these plants are different, they belong to the same species. They are called complex.
- The leaves of rye and wheat are linear and narrow. Venation on them parallel. This means that several large-sized veins are located along the leaf plate.
- The fruit of both plants is a simple, non-expanding caryopsis, in which there is one seed.
Differences in the ear
Many people are interested in how wheat ears differ from rye ears. This question takes place, because in this part of these plants you can find the most differences.
Firstly, an elongated rye spike is held on an axis fifteen centimeters long. This sturdy part of the plant holds it upright. Unlike wheat, the rye spike in the cross section is tetrahedral. Up to three stamens are located on its surface, and up to five on the wheat. The spikes of rye ears are directed vertically upwards, while the spines of wheat grow in different directions.
What is the difference between rye and wheat in appearance? Flowers. In wheat, they consist of two rows, on which there are three scales. In each of them there are several stamens, a nimbus, a cup and a pestle. Wheat is a self-pollinating and wind-pollinating plant. She is able to grow in poor conditions. Moreover, it is self-pollinated under closed flakes. At the same time, under good environmental conditions, it will reveal flakes, as a result of which it is pollinated with the help of wind gusts. Rye is pollinated only in the second way.
What is the difference between an ear of wheat and an ear of rye? Color. Still not ripened ears of rye have a bluish tint, and wheat - green.
Differences in the fruits
As mentioned earlier, the fruits of these most important agricultural plants are grains. But they can also be different. Answering the question: “What is the difference between rye and wheat?”, One cannot but say about their shape. Rye grains are long and thin, and wheat rye is round. By its shape, you can easily determine which plant is in question, because it is impossible to confuse their fruits.
On the grain of rye is a groove that deeply penetrates inside it. It is surrounded by several shells. It is known that their number is one and a half or two times the number of shells of wheat grain.
How to distinguish wheat from rye?
What is the difference between rye and wheat? The ear of one of the most popular agricultural plants is clearly visible in the photo. In order to make sure that a person is dealing with rye or wheat, he can conduct a series of experiments.
- Germination of grains. It is necessary to take one grain of wheat and rye and let them germinate. Then you need to dig them out and compare the roots. Wheat has three, and rye has four.
- Keep track of leaf color. One of the differences between these cultivated plants is the color of their leaves. In rye it is red, sometimes even bluish, and in wheat it is bright green.
- The growth of these crops is different. Rye is the tallest grain plant. True, this criterion is not the most accurate - wheat in good conditions can equal height with rye.
- The awns of wheat are much shorter than the aweses of rye, this is very clearly visible in comparison.
- The rye kernel is thin and long, and the wheat is thick, short and almost round in cross section.