Effect of salt‐tolerant plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria on wheat plants and soil health in a saline environment

Abstract Salt‐tolerant plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria ( ST ‐ PGPR ) significantly influence the growth and yield of wheat crops in saline soil. Wheat growth improved in pots with inoculation of all nine ST ‐ PGPR ( EC e = 4.3 dS·m −1 ; greenhouse experiment), while maximum growth and dry biomass was observed in isolate SU 18 A rthrobacter sp.; simultaneously, all ST ‐ PGPR improved soil health in treated pot soil over controls. In the field experiment, maximum wheat root dry weight and shoot biomass was observed after inoculation with SU 44 B . aquimaris , and SU 8 B . aquimaris , respectively, after 60 and 90 days. Isolate SU 8 B . aquimaris , induced significantly higher proline and total soluble sugar accumulation in wheat, while isolate SU 44 B . aquimaris , resulted in higher accumulation of reducing sugars after 60 days. Percentage nitrogen ( N ), potassium ( K ) and phosphorus ( P ) in leaves of wheat increased significantly after inoculation with ST ‐ PGPR , as compared to un‐inoculated plants. Isolate SU 47 B . subtilis showed maximum reduction of sodium ( N a) content in wheat leaves of about 23% at both 60 and 90 days after sowing, and produced the best yield of around 17.8% more than the control.