Halophilic plant growth-promoting bacterial consortium reshapes soil microbiota to enhance salinity tolerance, antioxidant defense, and yield in Vigna mungo L.

A halotolerant strain of Bacillus cereus effectively regulates salt stress-responsive genes in Zea mays L. seedlings under stress condition.

Findings indicate that B. cereus isolate 74 enhances maize salt tolerance through coordinated regulation of antioxidant defense systems and metabolic reprogramming, which provides novel insights into PGPR-mediated stress adaptation.

Microbial inoculation enhances salt tolerance by modulating secondary metabolites and key biosynthetic genes in Melissa officinalis

Rhizobial Symbiosis Enhances Salinity Tolerance in Legumes Through Coordinated Physiological and Molecular Responses: Evidence From Common Vetch and Pea.

Findings highlight the potential of Rhizobium inoculation to enhance crop resilience in salt-affected agroecosystems and demonstrate that symbiosis correlates with a more efficient and physiologically moderated acclimation to salinity in legumes.

Enhancement of growth and salt tolerance in Clematis chinensis by the plant growth- promoting fungus Trichoderma compactum SZ01

The potential of SZ01 as a microbial inoculant to promote plant growth and productivity in saline–alkaline environments, with implications for both medicinal and agricultural crop production, is highlighted.

Thiourea priming promotes coordinated redox, osmotic and ionic adjustments associated with improved salt tolerance in Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek

Soil salinity adversely affects seed germination, growth, photosynthetic performance, ionic balance, and antioxidant capacity, thereby limiting crop productivity. The present study investigated the effectiveness of seed priming treatments in improving salinity tolerance in two contrasting Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) genotypes, PKU-AKM 12-28 (salt-tolerant) and VBN(Gg)3 (salt-susceptible). Multiple chemical priming agents were initially screened using salt tolerance indices and principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the most effective treatment. Thiourea (TU; 1000 ppm) was identified as the most effective priming treatment and was subsequently evaluated for its effects on physiological, biochemical, antioxidant, ionic, and metabolite responses under salinity stress. Salinity significantly reduced germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments, osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant capacity, and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, while increasing lipid peroxidation. Thiourea priming substantially improved chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, enhanced accumulation of proline, soluble sugars, total free amino acids, phenolics, and flavonoids, increased catalase and peroxidase activities, and reduced malondialdehyde accumulation in both genotypes. Thiourea-treated seedlings also maintained improved ionic balance through enhanced K⁺ retention and reduced Na⁺ accumulation under salinity stress. Correlation, path coefficient, and regression analyses revealed significant statistical associations among osmolyte-related traits, antioxidant parameters, photosynthetic pigments, and biomass-related attributes. Untargeted LC-MS profiling of the susceptible genotype further revealed treatment-associated differences in metabolite composition, including amino acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and other stress-associated metabolite classes. Overall, these findings indicate that thiourea priming is associated with coordinated physiological, biochemical, ionic, and metabolic adaptations that contribute to improved salinity tolerance in Mungbean seedlings.

Silicon-mediated regulation of photosynthesis, ion homeostasis and antioxidant defense improves salinity tolerance in Agropyron cristatum × A. desertorum cv. Hycrest-Mengnong

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that severely limits plant growth and productivity worldwide, particularly under changing climate conditions. Silicon (Si) has emerged as a promising approach for improving plant tolerance to salinity stress; however, its integrated physiological effects in perennial forage grasses remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the role of Si in alleviating salinity stress in Agropyron cristatum × A. desertorum cv. Hycrest-Mengnong under controlled conditions. Plants were exposed to 0, 100, and 200 mM NaCl with or without Si application, and growth, physiological, biochemical, and ionic responses were evaluated. Salinity stress significantly reduced plant height, biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic performance, chlorophyll content, and PSII efficiency, with the strongest inhibitory effects observed at 200 mM NaCl. Salinity also increased oxidative damage, as indicated by higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content, promoted proline accumulation associated with osmotic adjustment, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and disrupted ionic homeostasis through excessive Na⁺ accumulation and reduced K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. Si application markedly alleviated these adverse effects by improving growth, maintaining photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll stability, enhancing antioxidant defense, promoting osmotic adjustment, and regulating ion balance through reduced Na⁺ accumulation and improved K⁺ retention. These findings demonstrate that Si enhances salinity tolerance through coordinated regulation of physiological, biochemical, and ionic mechanisms. The study provides a mechanistic framework for understanding Si-mediated salinity tolerance in perennial forage grasses and highlights the potential application of Si for improving forage productivity under saline conditions.