Screening Of Growth Promoting Entophytic Bacteria For Salinity Stress Tolerance

Saline soil is characterized by a high concentration of salts, primarily sodium chloride. It is commonly found in dry and semiarid regions, coastal areas, and locations with elevated salt levels in the parent material. The presence of salinity in soil can have detrimental effects on plant growth, as the excessive salt content interferes with the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. This osmotic imbalance makes it challenging for plants to extract water from the soil, negatively impacting their growth. In Pakistan, salinity poses a significant challenge in agriculture, affecting approximately 6.6 million hectares of land. To address this issue, a study was conducted with the main objectives of identifying endophytic bacteria and determining their threshold level of tolerance to high salinity stress. The researchers employed various techniques, including the isolation of endophytic bacteria on L.B media plates, morphological assessments of bacteria, salt tolerance isolation techniques, and biochemical methods.The results of the study revealed that the endophytic bacteria isolated could withstand salinity stress levels of up to 1700mM, which represents their maximum capacity to handle such conditions. After 24 hours of incubation, changes in colony color, diameter, status, and appearance were observed. The biochemical analysis demonstrated positive catalase activity, indicated by the formation of bubbles in a liquid form, as well as a change in the color of the solution.In conclusion, the study highlights the potential of endophytic bacteria as beneficial tools for enhancing plant.