Development of Halotolerant Microbial Consortia for Salt Stress Mitigation and Sustainable Tomato Production in Sodic Soils: An Enzyme Mechanism Approach

Salt stress caused by sodic soils is an important constraint that impacts the production of crucial solanaceous vegetable crops globally. Halotolerant poly-extremophiles rhizobacteria can inhabit hostile environments like salinity, drought, etc. The present study was aimed to design a halotolerant micro-formulation using highly salt-tolerant bacterial strains previously isolated from rice and wheat rhizosphere in soil. Nine isolates were examined for plant growth-promoting traits biomass pot studies with soil pH 9.23 tomato. Compatible, efficient be formulated into different consortia PGPR-C1, PGPR-C2 and, PGPR-C3 field evaluation 9.14. rhizobacterial (PGPR-C3) comprising Lysinibacillus spp. Bacillus found produce extracellular enzymes amylase, protease, cellulase, lipase, showing significantly enhanced vegetative parameters, yield lycopene content tomato hybrid NS585 under salt-stressed soils. also showed activities halo tolerance high Indole acetic acid production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic deaminase, antioxidative enzyme activity over uninoculated control. Further, inoculation resulted exclusion Na+ ions through increased absorption K+. Results reveal could alleviate salt promotes successful cultivation crop It considered best option eco-friendly, sustainable vegetables range up