Coating seeds with endophytic fungi enhances growth, nutrient uptake, yield and grain quality of winter wheat

The aim of this study was to assess whether seed coating with microbialconsortium based on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradicesBEG72, Glomus mossae and Trichoderma atroviride MUCL 45632 could improveseedling establishment, yield and grain quality (protein content and mineralcomposition) of wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). As a first step, a laboratoryexperiment was conducted in a growth chamber to verify the capability of seedcoating with endophytic fungi to promote emergence and plant growth of wheatseedlings. Two additional experiments were carried out under open fieldconditions, to evaluate the effects of coating with beneficial fungi on SPAD index,chlorophyll fluorescence, yield, grain quality and mineral composition of winterwheat. In the growth chamber experiment, 17 days after sowing, the SPAD index,the number of leaves, shoot and root dry biomass of seedlings were significantlyhigher by 10.0%, 28.6%, 23.1% and 64.2%, in coated as compared to uncoatedwheat seeds. In the open field trials, use of the uncoated seeds led to a significantreduction in grain yield by 24.3% and 7.7%, during the first and second growingseason, respectively, compared to the coated seeds. Grain quality of wheat, inparticular protein content, K, P, Fe and Zn concentrations were improved by AMfungi and Trichoderma inoculation. Uncoated wheat plants exhibited a strongvariation of yield between the two growing cycles (2.8 and 3.6 t ha-1 for 2011-12and 2012-13, respectively) in comparison to coated seeds (3.7 and 3.9 t ha-1 for2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively). The increase in grain yield and yield stability with coating seed treatment was associated with an increased level of macro andmicronutrient uptake, higher SPAD index and photochemical activity of PSII. Theapplication of coated seeds containing Glomus and Trichoderma can improve thecrop performance of wheat in a sustainable way