In a remarkable discovery, scientists have managed to recover 145-year-old rye seeds from a shipwreck in Lake Huron, with plans to use them to create whiskey. This endeavor aims to revive a historical crop and link Michigan’s agricultural heritage to its modern agricultural landscape.

The schooner James R. Bentley sank in 1878 while transporting rye destined for Chicago. Although the shipwreck was found in 1984, the rye remained submerged until recent efforts revealed the seeds. A team of scientists utilized specialized metal tubes to extract the seeds from the wreck on September 17, 2024. However, safeguarding the viability of these seeds, which had spent more than a century underwater, proved challenging.

Upon extraction, the seeds, which have been named "Bentley rye," were rushed to Michigan State University for analysis. Associate Professor Eric Olson expressed cautious hope for their ability to germinate. "It was thrilling to think we might revive this variety and reconnect with our agricultural past," he stated, although he highlighted the challenges posed by the seeds’ long submersion.

Initial attempts to germinate the seeds were unsuccessful, even with the application of gibberellic acid—a hormone that stimulates seed growth. Despite their appearance, the seeds seemed to have lost the necessary viable components for germination. Olson elaborated that while the seeds looked intact, they lacked the vital mitochondria for sprouting.

The research team then devised an alternative strategy, aiming to extract genetic material from the ancient seeds. Olson explained, "We can recover the genes within these seeds and use modern genetic techniques to reconstruct parts of the genome. Essentially, we can sequence the chromosomes of this rye and transfer segments into a contemporary rye variety, thereby reviving a piece of our history."

Plans are underway to merge the genetic material of Bentley rye with another historic variety known as Rosen rye. This hybridization could facilitate the development of a new crop that could be significant in producing whiskey, linking Michigan’s historical farming practices with present-day agricultural opportunities.

Chad Munger, CEO of Mammoth Distilling and Consolidated Rye and Whiskey, foresees the project enhancing agrotourism and creating markets for locally grown rye. “Our goal is to recreate the agricultural economy that thrived around rye production over a century ago,” Munger emphasized. “We aim to generate a market for Michigan rye that extends far beyond the state, leveraging this connection to history.”

For more details, you can follow the story on Interesting Engineering.