Beneficial effects of endophytic Pantoea ananatis with ability to promote rice growth under saline stress

Functional activity of endophytic bacteria G9H01 with high salt tolerance and anti-Magnaporthe oryzae that isolated from saline-alkali-tolerant rice

It holds significant practical importance to screen and investigate endophytic bacteria with salt-tolerant activity in rice for the development of relevant microbial agents. A total of 179 strains of endophytic bacteria were isolated from 24 samples of salt-tolerant rice seeds, with almost 95 % of these bacteria exhibiting tolerance to a salt content of 2 % (0.34 mol/L). Following the screening process, a bacterium named G9H01 was identified, which demonstrated a salt tolerance of up to 15 % (2.57 mol/L) and resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed G9H01 as a strain of Bacillus paralicheniformis. The complete genome of G9H01 was sequenced and assembled, revealing a considerable number of genes encoding proteins associated with salt tolerance. Further analysis indicated that G9H01 may alleviate salt stress in a high-salt environment through various mechanisms. These mechanisms include the utilization of proteins such as K+ transporters, antiporters, and Na+/H+ antiporters, which are involved in K+ absorption and Na+ excretion. G9H01 also demonstrated the ability to uptake and accumulate betaine, as well as secrete extracellular polysaccharides. Collectively, these findings suggest that Bacillus paralicheniformis G9H01 has potential as a biocontrol agent, capable of promoting rice growth under saline-alkali-tolerant conditions.

Diversity and functional traits of seed endophytes of Dysphania ambrosioides from heavy metal contaminated and non-contaminated areas

Seed endophytes played a crucial role on host plants stress tolerance and heavy metal (HM) accumulation. Dysphania ambrosioides is a hyperaccumulator and showed strong tolerance and extraordinary accumulation capacities of multiple HMs. However, little is known about its seed endophytes response to field HM-contamination, and its role on host plants HM tolerance and accumulation. In this study, the seed endophytic community of D. ambrosioides from HM-contaminated area (H) and non-contaminated area (N) were investigated by both culture-dependent and independent methods. Moreover, Cd tolerance and the plant growth promoting (PGP) traits of dominant endophytes from site H and N were evaluated. The results showed that in both studies, HM-contamination reduced the diversity and richness of endophytic community and changed the most dominant endophyte, but increased resistant species abundance. By functional trait assessments, a great number of dominant endophytes displayed multiple PGP traits and Cd tolerance. Interestingly, soil HM-contamination significantly increased the percentage of Cd tolerance isolates of Agrobacterium and Epicoccum, but significantly decreased the ration of Agrobacterium with the siderophore production ability. However, the other PGP traits of isolates from site H and N showed no significant difference. Therefore, it was suggested that D. ambrosioides might improve its HM tolerance and accumulation through harboring more HM-resistant endophytes rather than PGP endophytes, but to prove this, more work need to be conducted in the future.

Promotional Properties of ACC Deaminase-Producing Bacterial Strain DY1-3 and Its Enhancement of Maize Resistance to Salt and Drought Stresses

Salt stress and drought stress can decrease the growth and productivity of agricultural crops. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) may protect and promote plant growth at abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to search for bacterial strains that can help crops resist rises in drought and salt stresses, to improve crop seed resistance under drought and salt stresses, and to investigate the effect of bacterial strains that can help crop resist external stresses under different stress conditions. Pseudomonas DY1-3, a strain from the soil under the glacier moss community of Tien Shan No. 1, was selected to investigate its growth-promoting effects. Previous studies have shown that this strain is capable of producing ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase. In this experiment, multifunctional biochemical test assays were evaluated to determine their potential as PGPB and their bacterial growth-promoting properties and stress-resistant effects on maize plants were verified through seed germination experiments and pot experiments. The results showed that strain DY1-3 has good salt and drought tolerance, as well as the ability to melt phosphorus, fix nitrogen, and produce iron carriers, IAA, EPS, and other pro-biomasses. This study on the growth-promoting effects of the DY1-3 bacterial strain on maize seeds revealed that the germination rate, primary root length, germ length, number of root meristems, and vigor index of the maize seeds were increased after soaking them in bacterial solution under no-stress, drought-stress, and salt-stress environments. In the potting experiments, seedlings in the experimental group inoculated with DY1-3 showed increased stem thicknesses, primary root length, numbers of root meristems, and plant height compared to control seedlings using sterile water. In the study on the physiological properties of the plants related to resistance to stress, the SOD, POD, CAT, and chlorophyll contents of the seedlings in the experimental group, to which the DY1-3 strain was applied, were higher than those of the control group of seedlings to which the bacterial solution was not applied. The addition of the bacterial solution reduced the content of MDA in the experimental group seedlings, which indicated that DY1-3 could positively affect the promotion of maize seedlings and seeds against abiotic stress. In this study, it was concluded that strain DY1-3 is a valuable strain for application, which can produce a variety of pro-biotic substances to promote plant growth in stress-free environments or to help plants resist abiotic stresses. In addition to this, the strain itself has good salt and drought tolerance, making it an option to help crops grown in saline soils to withstand abiotic stresses, and a promising candidate for future application in agricultural biofertilizers.

Exploring the potential of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions to mitigate salinity stress in wheat: physiological, molecular, and biochemical insights

Salinity stress, a significant global abiotic stress, is caused by various factors such as irrigation with saline water, fertilizer overuse, and drought conditions, resulting in reduced agricultural production and sustainability. In this study, we investigated the use of halotolerant bacteria from coastal regions characterized by high salinity as a solution to address the major environmental challenge of salinity stress. To identify effective microbial strains, we isolated and characterized 81 halophilic bacteria from various sources, such as plants, rhizosphere, algae, lichen, sea sediments, and sea water. We screened these bacterial strains for their plant growth-promoting activities, such as indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. Similarly, the evaluation of bacterial isolates through bioassay revealed that approximately 22% of the endophytic isolates and 14% of rhizospheric isolates exhibited a favorable influence on seed germination and seedling growth. Among the tested isolates, GREB3, GRRB3, and SPSB2 displayed a significant improvement in all growth parameters compared to the control. As a result, these three isolates were utilized to evaluate their efficacy in alleviating the negative impacts of salt stress (150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater (SW)) on the growth of wheat plants. The result showed that shoot length significantly increased in plants inoculated with bacterial isolates up to 15% (GREB3), 16% (GRRB3), and 24% (SPSB2), respectively, compared to the control. The SPSB2 strain was particularly effective in promoting plant growth and alleviating salt stress. All the isolates exhibited a more promotory effect on root length than shoot length. Under salt stress conditions, the GRRB3 strain significantly impacted root length, leading to a boost of up to 6%, 5%, and 3.8% at 150 mM, 300 mM, and seawater stress levels, respectively. The bacterial isolates also positively impacted the plant's secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzymes. The study also identified the WDREB2 gene as highly upregulated under salt stress, whereas DREB6 was downregulated. These findings demonstrate the potential of beneficial microbes as a sustainable approach to mitigate salinity stress in agriculture.

Culture-Dependent and Metabarcoding Characterization of the Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Microbiome for High-Yield Isolation of Bacteria with Plant Growth-Promoting Traits

The diversity of plant-associated bacteria is vast and can be determined by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Fewer of them have plant-beneficial properties. To harness their benefits for plants, we must isolate them. This study aimed to check whether 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding has predictive power in identifying the majority of known bacteria with plant-beneficial traits that can be isolated from the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) microbiome. Rhizosphere and phyllosphere samples collected during one season at different stages of plant development were analyzed. Bacteria were isolated on rich unselective media and plant-based media enriched with sugar beet leaves or rhizosphere extracts. The isolates were identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and tested in vitro for their plant-beneficial properties (stimulation of germination; exopolysaccharide, siderophore, and HCN production; phosphate solubilization; and activity against sugar beet pathogens). The highest number of co-occurring beneficial traits was eight, found in isolates of five species: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacillus australimaris, B. pumilus, Enterobacter ludwiigi, and Pantoea ananatis. These species were not detected by metabarcoding and have not previously been described as plant-beneficial inhabitants of sugar beets. Thus, our findings point out the necessity of a culture-dependent microbiome analysis and advocate for low-nutrient plant-based media for high-yield isolation of plant-beneficial taxa with multiple beneficial traits. A culture-dependent and -independent approach is required for community diversity assessment. Still, isolation on plant-based media is the best approach to select isolates for potential use as biofertilizers and biopesticides in sugar beet cultivation.

Aspergillus welwitschiae BK Isolate Ameliorates the Physicochemical Characteristics and Mineral Profile of Maize under Salt Stress

Abiotic stressors are global limiting constraints for plant growth and development. The most severe abiotic factor for plant growth suppression is salt. Among many field crops, maize is more vulnerable to salt, which inhibits the growth and development of plants and results in low productivity or even crop loss under extreme salinity. Consequently, comprehending the effects of salt stress on maize crop improvement, while retaining high productivity and applying mitigation strategies, is essential for achieving the long-term objective of sustainable food security. This study aimed to exploit the endophytic fungal microbe; Aspergillus welwitschiae BK isolate for the growth promotion of maize under severe salinity stress. Current findings showed that salt stress (200 mM) negatively affected chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, and endogenous IAA, with enhanced values of chlorophyll a/b ratio, carotenoids, total protein, total sugars, total lipids, secondary metabolites (phenol, flavonoids, tannins), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase), proline content, and lipid peroxidation in maize plants. However, BK inoculation reversed the negative impact of salt stress by rebalancing the chlorophyll a/b ratio, carotenoids, total protein, total sugars, total lipids, secondary metabolites (phenol, flavonoids, tannins), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase), and proline content to optimal levels suitable for growth promotion and ameliorating salt stress in maize plants. Furthermore, maize plants inoculated with BK under salt stress had lower Na⁺, Cl^- concentrations, lower Na^+/K⁺ and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ ratios, and higher N, P, Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺ content than non-inoculated plants. The BK isolate improved the salt tolerance by modulating physiochemical attributes, and the root-to-shoot translocation of ions and mineral elements, thereby rebalancing the Na⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio of maize plants under salt stress.

Bioprospecting and Challenges of Plant Microbiome Research for Sustainable Agriculture, a Review on Soybean Endophytic Bacteria

This review evaluates oilseed crop soybean endophytic bacteria, their prospects, and challenges for sustainable agriculture. Soybean is one of the most important oilseed crops with about 20-25% protein content and 20% edible oil production. The ability of soybean root-associated microbes to restore soil nutrients enhances crop yield. Naturally, the soybean root endosphere harbors root nodule bacteria, and endophytic bacteria, which help increase the nitrogen pool and reclamation of another nutrient loss in the soil for plant nutrition. Endophytic bacteria can sustain plant growth and health by exhibiting antibiosis against phytopathogens, production of enzymes, phytohormone biosynthesis, organic acids, and secondary metabolite secretions. Considerable effort in the agricultural industry is focused on multifunctional concepts and bioprospecting on the use of bioinput from endophytic microbes to ensure a stable ecosystem. Bioprospecting in the case of this review is a systemic overview of the biorational approach to harness beneficial plant-associated microbes to ensure food security in the future. Progress in this endeavor is limited by available techniques. The use of molecular techniques in unraveling the functions of soybean endophytic bacteria can explore their use in integrated organic farming. Our review brings to light the endophytic microbial dynamics of soybeans and current status of plant microbiome research for sustainable agriculture.

Characterization of Pantoea ananatis from rice planthoppers reveals a clade of rice-associated P. ananatis undergoing genome reduction

Pantoea ananatis is a bacterium that is found in many agronomic crops and agricultural pests. Here, we isolated a P. ananatis strain (Lstr) from the rice planthopper Laodelphax striatellus, a notorious pest that feeds on rice plant sap and transmits rice viruses, in order to examine its genome and biology. P. ananatis Lstr is an insect symbiont that is pathogenic to the host insect and appears to mostly inhabit the gut. Its pathogenicity thus raises the possibility of using the Lstr strain as a biological agent. To this end, we analysed the genome of the Lstr strain and compared it with the genomes of other Pantoea species. Our analysis of these genomes shows that P. ananatis can be divided into two mono-phylogenetic clades (clades one and two). The Lstr strain belongs to clade two and is grouped with P. ananatis strains that were isolated from rice or rice-associated samples. A comparative genomic analysis shows that clade two differs from clade one in many genomic characteristics including genome structures, mobile elements, and categories of coding proteins. The genomes of clade two P. ananatis are significantly smaller, have much fewer coding sequences but more pseudogenes than those of clade one, suggesting that clade two species are at the early stage of genome reduction. On the other hand, P. ananatis has a type VI secretion system that is highly variable but cannot be separated by clades. These results clarify our understanding of P. ananatis' phylogenetic diversity and provide clues to the interactions between P. ananatis, host insect, and plant that may lead to advances in rice protection and pest control.

Beneficial Effect and Potential Risk of Pantoea on Rice Production

Bacteria from the genus Pantoea have been reported to be widely distributed in rice paddy environments with contradictory roles. Some strains promoted rice growth and protected rice from pathogen infection or abiotic stress, but other strain exhibited virulence to rice, even causing severe rice disease. In order to effectively utilize Pantoea in rice production, this paper analyzed the mechanisms underlying beneficial and harmful effects of Pantoea on rice growth. The beneficial effect of Pantoea on rice plants includes growth promotion, abiotic alleviation and disease inhibition. The growth promotion may be mainly attributed to nitrogen-fixation, phosphate solubilization, plant physiological change, the biosynthesis of siderophores, exopolysaccharides, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase and phytohormones, including cytokinin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), auxins, abscisic acid and gibberellic acid, while the disease inhibition may be mainly due to the induced resistance, nutrient and spatial competition, as well as the production of a variety of antibiotics. The pathogenic mechanism of Pantoea can be mainly attributed to bacterial motility, production of phytohormones such as IAA, quorum sensing-related signal molecules and a series of cell wall-degrading enzymes, while the pathogenicity-related genes of Pantoea include genes encoding plasmids, such as the pPATH plasmid, the hypersensitive response and pathogenicity system, as well as various types of secretion systems, such as T3SS and T6SS. In addition, the existing scientific problems in this field were discussed and future research prospects were proposed.

Validation of Species-Specific PCR Assays for the Detection of Pantoea ananatis, P. agglomerans, P. allii, and P. stewartii

Species of Pantoea represent a group of plant pathogenic bacteria that infect a variety of agro-economically important plant species. Among these, a complex of P. ananatis, P. allii, P. agglomerans, and P. stewartii subsp. indologenes cause center rot in onion, resulting in significant economic losses. As species of Pantoea are phenotypically closely related, identification of Pantoea species relies on the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping genes. To aid in rapid identification of Pantoea species, efforts have been made in developing species-specific primers to be used in PCR assays. In the current study, two P. ananatis, one P. allii, one P. agglomerans, and three P. stewartii published primers as well as newly developed P. agglomerans PagR primers were evaluated for their specificity against 79 Pantoea strains, belonging to 15 different species. To ensure that selected primers were evaluated against accurately identified species, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping gene infB were conducted. Thereafter, PCR assays using selected species-specific primers were performed. The results showed that previously described P. ananatis-specific PANA_1008; P. allii-specific allii-leuS; P. stewartii-specific PANST_rpoB, 3614galE, and DC283galE primers; and one newly designed P. agglomerans-specific PagR primer pair were highly specific for their target Pantoea species. They accurately identified these strains into their species and, in some cases, their subspecies level. The findings of the current study will facilitate rapid and reliable identification of P. ananatis, P. agglomerans, P. allii, and P. stewartii.

Antifungal Activity and Biochemical Profiling of Exudates from Germinating Maize Nostrano di Storo Local Variety

Plant pathogens are responsible for important damages to valuable crops causing important economic losses. Agrobiodiversity protection is crucial for the valorization of local varieties that could possess higher resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. At the beginning of germination, seeds are susceptible to pathogens attacks, thus they can release endogenous antimicrobial compounds of different natures in the spermosphere, to contrast proliferation of microorganisms. The work aimed at characterizing the maize of local variety Nostrano di Storo seed exudates secreted during the first phases of germination, to identify compounds active in the defense towards pathogens. Storo seed exudates were proven to inhibit F. verticilloides germination. In order to investigate the cause of the described effect, compositional profiling of the exudates was performed through NMR, lipidomic, and proteomic analyses. This study suggests an important role of microbial endophytic communities in the protection of the seed during the early phases of the germination process and their interplay with fatty acids released by the seeds, rather than a specific antifungal compound. The valorization of agronomically acceptable maize lines with pre-harvest enhanced resistances to pathogens contamination could lead, in the near future, to commercially available varieties potentially requiring more limited chemical protective treatments.

Stress-Tolerant Endophytic Isolate Priestia aryabhattai BPR-9 Modulates Physio-Biochemical Mechanisms in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for Enhanced Salt Tolerance

In efforts to improve plant productivity and enhance defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses, endophytic bacteria have been used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In the current study, 25 endophytic microbes recovered from plant organs of Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) were assessed for biotic (phyto-fungal pathogens) and abiotic (salinity, drought, and heavy metal) stress tolerance. Among the recovered isolates, BPR-9 tolerated maximum salinity (18% NaCl), drought (15% PEG-6000), and heavy metals (µg mL^-1): Cd (1200), Cr (1000), Cu (1000), Pb (800), and Hg (30). Based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, as well as 16S rDNA gene sequencing, endophytic isolate BPR-9 was recognized as Priestia aryabhattai (accession no. OM743254.1). This isolate was revealed as a powerful multi-stress-tolerant crop growth promoter after extensive in-vitro testing for plant growth-promoting attributes, nutrient (phosphate, P; potassium, K; and zinc, Zn) solubilization efficiency, extracellular enzyme (protease, cellulase, amylase, lipase, and pectinase) synthesis, and potential for antagonistic activity against important fungal pathogens viz. Alternaria solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Ustilaginoidea virens. At elevated salt levels, increases were noted in indole-3-acetic acid; siderophores; P, K, and Zn-solubilization; ACC deaminase; and ammonia synthesized by Priestia aryabhattai. Additionally, under in-vitro plant bioassays, wheat seedlings inoculated with P. aryabhattai experienced superior growth compared to non-inoculated seedlings in high salinity (0-15% NaCl) environment. Under NaCl stress, germination rate, plant length, vigor indices, and leaf pigments of wheat seedlings significantly increased following P. aryabhattai inoculation. Furthermore, at 2%-NaCl, B. aryabhattai greatly and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased relative leaf water content, membrane damage, and electrolyte leakage compared with the non-inoculated control. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activity increased by 29, 32, and 21%, respectively, in wheat seedlings exposed to 2% NaCl and inoculated with the bacteria. The present findings demonstrate that endophytic P. aryabhattai strains might be used in the future as a multi-stress reducer and crop growth promoter in agronomically important crops including cereals.

Genotype-Specific Plastic Responses to Seed Bacteria under Drought Stress in Lactuca serriola

Recent studies have demonstrated that seed-borne bacteria can enhance the performance of invasive plants in novel introduced habitats with environmental stresses. The effect of this plant-bacteria interaction may vary with plant species or even genotype; however, the genotype-dependent effects of seed bacteria have rarely been assessed. In this study, we examined the effects of bacterial strains isolated from seeds on the genotypes of an invasive xerophytic plant, Lactuca serriola. Plant genotypes were grown under drought conditions, and their plastic responses to bacterial infections were evaluated. Some genotypes produced more biomass, whereas others produced less biomass in response to infection with the same bacterial strain. Notably, the quantity of root-adhering soil depended on the bacterial treatment and plant genotypes and was positively correlated with the plastic responses of plant performance. Because tested bacteria could colonize the plant rhizosphere, bacterial infection appears to induce the differential formation of soil rhizosheaths among plant genotypes, consequently affecting the maintenance of soil water content under drought conditions. Given that drought tolerance is a critical attribute for the invasive success of L. serriola, these results imply that bacterial symbionts can facilitate the establishment of alien plant species, but their effects are likely genotype-specific.

Salt-tolerant endophytic bacterium Enterobacter ludwigii B30 enhance bermudagrass growth under salt stress by modulating plant physiology and changing rhizosphere and root bacterial community

Osmotic and ionic induced salt stress suppresses plant growth. In a previous study, Enterobacter ludwigii B30, isolated from Paspalum vaginatum, improved seed germination, root length, and seedling length of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) under salt stress. In this study, E. ludwigii B30 application improved fresh weight and dry weight, carotenoid and chlorophyll levels, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, indole acetic acid content and K⁺ concentration. Without E. ludwigii B30 treatment, bermudagrass under salt stress decreased malondialdehyde and proline content, Y(NO) and Y(NPQ), Na⁺ concentration, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate, and abscisic acid content. After E. ludwigii B30 inoculation, bacterial community richness and diversity in the rhizosphere increased compared with the rhizosphere adjacent to roots under salt stress. Turf quality and carotenoid content were positively correlated with the incidence of the phyla Chloroflexi and Fibrobacteres in rhizosphere soil, and indole acetic acid (IAA) level was positively correlated with the phyla Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi in the roots. Our results suggest that E. ludwigii B30 can improve the ability of bermudagrass to accumulate biomass, adjust osmosis, improve photosynthetic efficiency and selectively absorb ions for reducing salt stress-induced injury, while changing the bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere and bermudagrass roots. They also provide a foundation for understanding how the bermudagrass rhizosphere and root microorganisms respond to endophyte inoculation.

Temporal Dynamics of Endogenous Bacterial Composition in Rice Seeds During Maturation and Storage, and Spatial Dynamics of the Bacteria During Seedling Growth

Seed endophytes are of interest because they are believed to affect seed quality, and ultimately, plant growth and fitness. A comprehensive understanding of the assembly of the seed microbiome during seed development and maturation, the fate of microbes during storage, and the migration of microbes during seedling growth are still lacking. In this study, to understand the assembly and fate of endogenous bacteria in rice seeds from the ripening stage to the storage and seedling stages, we employed culture-dependent and metagenomic analyses. Bacterial communities in rice seeds were composed of a few dominant taxa that were introduced at the milky and dough stages, and they persisted during seed maturation. The culturable bacterial population gradually increased during the ripening stage, whereas there was a gradual decrease during storage. Bacteria that persisted during storage proliferated after imbibition and were distributed and established in the shoots and roots of rice seedlings. The storage temperature influenced the abundance of bacteria, which consequently changed the bacterial composition in the shoots and roots of seedlings. Pantoea, Pseudomonas, and Allorhizobium were consistently abundant from seed development to the germination stage. Some endogenous bacterial strains significantly promoted the growth of Arabidopsis and rice plants. Overall, our results indicate that rice seeds are colonized by a few bacterial taxa during seed development, and their relative abundance fluctuates during storage and contributes significantly to the establishment of endophytes in the stems and roots of rice plants. The selected bacterial isolates can be used to improve the growth and health of rice plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the dynamics of bacterial populations during storage of rice seeds at different temperatures. The temporal dynamics of the bacterial community during seed storage provide clues for the manipulation of endogenous bacteria in rice plants.

Growth-Promoting Endophytic Fungus (Stemphylium lycopersici) Ameliorates Salt Stress Tolerance in Maize by Balancing Ionic and Metabolic Status

Climate change is a major cause of the world's food security problems, and soil salinity is a severe hazard for a variety of crops. The exploitation of endophytic fungi that are known to have a positive association with plant roots is preferred for improving plant growth, yield, and overall performance under salt stress. The current study thus rationalized to address how salt stress affected the growth, biochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and the ionic status of maize associated with endophytic fungus (Stemphylium lycopersici). According to the findings, salt stress reduced chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, total protein, sugars, lipids, and endogenous IAA levels. Enhanced values of chlorophyll a/b ratio, carotenoids, secondary metabolites (phenol, flavonoids, and tannins), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase), proline, and lipid peroxidation were noticed in maize plants under salt stress. Increased ionic content of Na+, Cl-, Na+/K+, and Na+/Ca2+ ratio, as well as decreased Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, N, and P contents, were also found in salt-stressed maize plants. In comparison to the non-saline medium, endophytic association promoted the antioxidant enzyme activities (798.7 U/g protein; catalase activity, 106 U/g protein; ascorbate peroxidase activity), IAA content (3.47 mg/g FW), and phenolics and flavonoids (88 and 1.68 μg/g FW, respectively), and decreased MDA content (0.016 nmol/g FW), Na+ ion content (18 mg/g dry weight), Cl- ion (16.6 mg/g dry weight), and Na+/K+ (0.78) and Na+/Ca2+ (1.79) ratios, in maize plants under salt stress, whereas Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, N, and P contents were increased in maize plants associated with S. lycopersici under salt stress. Current research exposed the role of S. lycopersici as an effective natural salt stress reducer and maize growth promoter; hence, it can be used as a biofertilizer to ameliorate salt stress tolerance in crops along with better growth performance in saline regions.

Bacterial Endophytes Contribute to Rice Seedling Establishment Under Submergence

Flooding events caused by severe rains and poor soil drainage can interfere with plant germination and seedling establishment. Rice is one of the cereal crops that has unique germination strategies under flooding. One of these strategies is based on the fast coleoptile elongation in order to reach the water surface and re-establish the contact with the air. Microorganisms can contribute to plant health via plant growth promoters and provide protection from abiotic stresses. To characterise the community composition of the microbiome in rice germination under submergence, a 16S rRNA gene profiling metagenomic analysis was performed of temperate japonica rice varieties Arborio and Lamone seedlings, which showed contrasting responses in terms of coleoptile length when submerged. This analysis showed a distinct microbiota composition of Arborio seeds under submergence, which are characterised by the development of a long coleoptile. To examine the potential function of microbial communities under submergence, culturable bacteria were isolated, identified and tested for plant growth-promoting activities. A subgroup of isolated bacteria showed the capacity to hydrolyse starch and produce indole-related compounds under hypoxia. Selected bacteria were inoculated in seeds to evaluate their effect on rice under submergence, showing a response that is dependent on the rice genotype. Our findings suggest that endophytic bacteria possess plant growth-promoting activities that can substantially contribute to rice seedling establishment under submergence.

A, A. WA, Bhubalan K, S. SNM, C. I. MS, Ng LC. Setting a Plausible Route for Saline Soil-Based Crop Cultivations by Application of Beneficial Halophyte-Associated Bacteria: A Review

The global scale of land salinization has always been a considerable concern for human livelihoods, mainly regarding the food-producing agricultural industries. The latest update suggested that the perpetual salinity problem claimed up to 900 million hectares of agricultural land worldwide, inducing salinity stress among salt-sensitive crops and ultimately reducing productivity and yield. Moreover, with the constant growth of the human population, sustainable solutions are vital to ensure food security and social welfare. Despite that, the current method of crop augmentations via selective breeding and genetic engineering only resulted in mild success. Therefore, using the biological approach of halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (HT-PGPB) as bio-inoculants provides a promising crop enhancement strategy. HT-PGPB has been proven capable of forming a symbiotic relationship with the host plant by instilling induced salinity tolerance (IST) and multiple plant growth-promoting traits (PGP). Nevertheless, the mechanisms and prospects of HT-PGPB application of glycophytic rice crops remains incomprehensively reported. Thus, this review describes a plausible strategy of halophyte-associated HT-PGPB as the future catalyst for rice crop production in salt-dominated land and aims to meet the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger.