*2.1. Field Trial Layout*

In the vegetation period 2017/2018, a field trial with winter wheat was conducted at trial station Campus Klein-Altendorf 50◦37 31.00 'N, 6◦59 20.54 'E (Rheinbach, Germany). In 2016/2017, a first field trial was performed to specify the measuring setup and routine (data are not shown). The cultivars JB Asano (Limagrain GmbH, Edemissen, Germany) and Bussard (KWS SAAT SE, Einbeck, Germany) were sown on 26.10.2017 with 320 kernels/m2. Field emergence was on 14th November 2017, while harvest took place on 24.07.2018. JB Asano was chosen because of its susceptibility to YR. The field trial was designed in 10 treatments per cultivar with two repetitions, resulting in 40 plots (plot size: 3 × 7 m). The plot design was randomized within each cultivar. With a change of the cultivar after each plot, the direct proximity of plots with the same cultivar was avoided. This was designed to arrange the field trial into two long rows of plots with cultivars alternating one after another in 20 plots per repetition (Figure 1). The treatments within one cultivar were randomized. Two fertilizer intensities (160 kg N/ha and 30 kg N/ha) were applied per cultivar. For cultivar Asano, two treatments were used for additional inoculation with YR. The whole field trial was aligned from northwest to southeast.
