Molecular and agronomic responses to plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in durum wheat

Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contribute to plant nutrient uptake by increasing the availability of nutrients and the root adsorbing surface (Garg et al., 2006; Asghar et al. 2002). The first objective of this study was to determine the effects of these associations on plant total biomass and grain yield in durum wheat (cv. Anco Marzio). Secondly, we aimed to analyze the root transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in response to mychorrizal infections and the expression pattern of key genes involved in nutrient uptake and stress responses. Field analysis were carried out in inner Sicily, a typical Mediterranean area. Four types of biotic a…