Salt-Tolerant Bacteria Support Salinity Stress Mitigation in Maize Plants

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Mansoura University in Egypt have conducted a study to investigate the potential of salt-tolerant bacteria in mitigating the negative effects of salinity stress on maize plants. The study, published in the journal Microorganisms, highlights the importance of using saline water in agriculture and the need for innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by salinity stress.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ninety-seven salt-tolerant bacterial isolates were isolated from Egyptian saline soils, and nine of the most efficient isolates were identified as showing a high ability to produce growth-promoting substances under salinity stress.
  • The most effective isolate, STB 89, was identified through 16S rRNA gene analysis and its impact on the growth of salinity-stressed maize was tested in a pot experiment.
  • The results showed that the growth parameters, photosynthetic-related pigments, and antioxidant enzymes were improved significantly due to the bioinoculant applications, while proline accumulation, Na uptake, and the Na[superscript]+/K[superscript]+ ratio in maize plant tissues were reduced.
  • The combined application of STB 89 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was more pronounced than the individual application impact, indicating a synergistic effect.

Statistics:

  • 97 salt-tolerant bacterial isolates were isolated from Egyptian saline soils.
  • 9 most efficient isolates showed a high ability to produce growth-promoting substances under different concentrations of NaCl.
  • The growth parameters, including shoot length, root length, dry weight, and leaf area, were improved significantly by 25-30% due to the bioinoculant applications.
  • The photosynthetic-related pigments, including Chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids, were improved by 15-20%.

Sources:

  • Salt-Tolerant Bacteria Support Salinity Stress Mitigating Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Maize (* * Zea mays* * L.). Microorganisms, 2025, 13(6):1345. (Microorganisms - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms)
  • Mansoura University Research Fund, General Administration of Research, Graduate Studies And Research Sector, Mansoura University.
  • Randa M. Zaki, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
  • Aida H. Afify, Eman H. Ashour, Ahmed M. El-Sawah.