Plant Growth-Promoting Potential of Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium pinghaense AAUBC-M26 under Elevated Salt Stress in Tomato

Entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium species are generally employed to manage the soil-dwelling stage of insect pests, and known for their rhizocompetency property. Since this fungus is typically recommended use in soil, it could potentially be investigated as a bioinoculant reduce abiotic stress, such salinity, along with improved plant growth promotion. Salt stress tolerance potential native isolates was evaluated based on mycelial fresh weight, dry spore yield. All were found tolerate NaCl concentrations (50 mM, 100 150 200 250 300 mM) supplemented culture medium. anisopliae (AAUBC-M15) pinghaense (AAUBC-M26) effective at tolerating up mM NaCl. These two analyzed vitro growth-promoting traits elevated salt (100 NaCl). No significant effect IAA production reported isolate M. (39.16 µg/mL) or combination (40.17 (38.55 µg/mL). The salinity had influence phosphate solubilization activity, except co-inoculation treatment positive ACC deaminase enzyme activity. An increase concentration accompanied by steady chitinase Total phenolics (149.3 flavonoids (79.20 significantly higher filtrate NaCl, gradual decline documented proved promising reducing tomato seedlings during nursery stage. In pot experiment, comprising soil application + seedling root dip foliar spray resulted parameters under stress. This study shows that Metarhizium, well controlling biotic brought can also help plants cope salinity.