Growth, grain yield and nutritional quality of tritordeum inoculated with symbiotic fungi from a wild grass (Celtica gigantea) under field conditions [Dataset]

Comprises 3 sheets: 1. Growth and grain yield. 2. Leaf nutrient content. 3. Grain quality. – All data refers to the same experimental plots. – Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: (a) growth and grain yield: Plant height was measured as the length from the base of the stem to the tip of the top leaf. (b) chemical analyses: For mineral elements analysis, samples were calcined at 450 °C for 8 h and the ashes dissolved in HCl:HNO3:H2O (1:1:8). The concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES, Varian 720-ES). Protein was determined as nitrogen using a C/H/N analyzer (LECO CN628). The fiber content was determined by analysing neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin using the filter bag technique with an automated fiber analyzer (Ankom A2000). Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was determined in lyophilized plant material using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method described (Gillespie et al., 2007) with some modifications (Mellado-Ortega et al., 2017) Grain protein fractions, gliadins and glutenins, were quantified by HPLC as described by Marín-Sanz et al. (2020). Soluble sugars were quantified by HPLC according to the standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists method 2000.17 (AOAC, 2009). The starch content of whole flour was determined according to standard International Association for Cereal Chemistry method no. 123/1 (ICC, 1994). References are listed in the publication

In this study, we tested whether fungal strains in symbiotic interaction with roots of Celtica gigantea, a wild grass adapted to nutrient-poor soils in semiarid habitats, could improve the field performance of the agricultural cereal tritordeum (Triticum durum x Hordeum chilense). Seedlings of tritordeum were inoculated with 12 different fungal strains isolated from roots of Celtica gigantea. The inoculated seedlings were transplanted to field plots at two locations belonging to different climatic zones in terms of mean temperatures and precipitation in the Iberian Peninsula (Salamanca and Córdoba). Both experiments were conducted under rainfed conditions. Plant height, measured as the length from the base of the stem to the tip of the top leaf, and tiller number were recorded when plants were at a growth stage equivalent to stage 5 on the Feekes scale for wheat. When plants had five leaves fully expanded, a sample was collected for nutrient analysis. Plants were harvested at maturity and the number of heads per plant, grain weight, and 1000 grain weight were determined. Several grain quality parameters were analyzed

RTC2014-3112-2 funded by AEI and FEDER, grant PID2019-109133RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/50110001103

Project CLU2019-05-IRNASA/CSIC Unit of Excellence funded by the Junta de Castilla y León and co-financed by EU (ERDF Europe drives our growth)

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