Bio-Amelioration of Saline Soil Using Aeluropus littoralis, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (AMF) and Salt-Resistant PGPB

This study aimed to evaluate the capability of the halophyte A. littoralis in symbiosis with Rhizophagus intraradices and Nocardia halotolerans, an indigenous bacterium of saline soils, on phyto-extraction of Na under saline conditions. Salinity treatments included ۰ (S۰), ۱۰۰ mM NaCl (S۱), ۲۰۰ mM NaCl (S۲), ۱۰۰ mM NaCl+۵۰mM K۲SO۴ (S۳), and ۲۰۰ mM NaCl+۵۰mM K۲SO۴ (S۴) levels. Plant fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll content decreased as salinity increased up to S۲ level and increased thereafter. Plant root colonization in the inoculation and co-inoculation of AMF+SR-PGPB (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Salt-Resistant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria) were similar. Compared to the S۰ treatment, root colonization in the AMF group decreased by ۲۳.۵, ۳۲.۶, ۱۳.۵, and ۲۶.۷% under S۱, S۲, S۳, and S۴ treatments, respectively. In the Bacteria+AMF group, the reduction was smaller, with decreases of ۲.۸%, ۳.۴%, and an increase of ۶.۸ and ۱.۴% under S۱, S۲, S۳, and S۴ treatments, respectively. These results indicate that co-inoculation with PGPB mitigated the negative effects of salinity on root colonization. The root and soil glomalin contents increased as salinity increased. Root glomalin in plants inoculated by AMF+SR-PGPB was more than in a single inoculation of AMF under salt stress. This study highlights the potential application of salt-tolerant bacteria and AMF as effective strategies for enhancing plant growth and productivity in saline environments, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices in affected regions.

کلیدواژه ها:

halophyte ، mycorrhizal symbiosis ، plant growth promoting traits ، Phytoremediation ، Salinity stress