Biotechnology Journal International

Aim: This study assesses the potential of Halophiles from marine water to promote plant growth and alleviate salinity effects. Salinity is a significant abiotic stress impacting plant growth and agricultural productivity globally.

Study Design: To test the hypothesis, Halophiles microorganisms were isolated from marine water samples, and their ability to tolerate high salinity was assessed using increasing salt concentrations. Subsequently, we assessed the plant growth promoting traits of the selected halophiles strains, including phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, and ammonia production.

Place and Duration of Study: Dr. D. Y. Patil Arts, Commerce and Science College, Pimpri, Pune- 411018December 2022 to March 2023.

Methodology: We evaluated plant promoting traits of Halophiles and also their ability to promote seed germination. In pot experiments, wheat plants were grown under controlled salinity conditions and inoculated with selected halophile strains on their roots. Key growth parameters, including shoot length and root length, were measured and contrasted with those of control plants that did not receive microbial inoculation.

Results: After inoculation of isolates and 7-day incubation period, soil samples showed reduction in salinity in terms of electrical conductivity in which consortium (A1, B1 and C4) showed maximum reduction from 6.78 to 3.78 Millisiemens per cm, indicating the isolates' potential for salinity alleviation. Our results also demonstrated that the isolates possessed significant plant growth promoting traits.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that halophiles from marine environments may help alleviate salinity stress in plants and enhance growth, suggesting their potential use in sustainable agriculture in saline regions