Water relations and physiology at milky grain development stage, and growth, gran yield and mineral content of potted wheat plants under long mild water deficit [Dataset]

In this research study, we evaluated the effect of mild water deficit on the physiological response of the flag leaf at the milky grain development stage and the final grain yield and mineral content at maturity of bread wheat (Tritticum aestivum cv Gazul). Three plants were grown in 5-L pots containing a mixture of perlite and vermiculite in a volumetric ratio of 3 to 1 as the soilless substrate and under greenhouse conditions from February 2023 to July 2023. After seed sowing, the potted plants were fertigated at full-holding capacity (100% FC) three days per week. After the unfolding of the fourth leaf, pots were divided into two blocks: one half of the pots followed the same fertigation pattern at 100% FC while fertigation was reduced to 65% FC in the other half until plant maturity and senescence. At the milky grain development stage, when plants water demand was highest, we assessed leaf morphological traits, photosynthesis related traits, content of proline, free amino acids, ascorbic acid, glutathione and nitrate at two consecutive days. At maturity, plants were harvested to determine final biomass, water use efficiency, grain yield, and mineral content of the flag leaves and the grains.