Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment

Soil salinity is a crucial challenge that restricts plant development and productivity. In this study, we aimed to report a promising marine-derived plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria that can empower wheat plants to survive upon salt stress. Thirty-one bacterial isolates derived from marine envi...

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Main Authors: Eman Hamada, Adel Eltoukhy, Metwally K. Mahfouz, Abdel Kareem S.H. Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ResearchersLinks, Ltd 2025-07-01
Series:Novel Research in Microbiology Journal
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Online Access:https://researcherslinks.com/current-issues/Mitigation-of-Salt-Stress-in-Two-Wheat/44/1/11490/html
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author Eman Hamada
Adel Eltoukhy
Metwally K. Mahfouz
Abdel Kareem S.H. Mohamed
author_facet Eman Hamada
Adel Eltoukhy
Metwally K. Mahfouz
Abdel Kareem S.H. Mohamed
author_sort Eman Hamada
collection DOAJ
description Soil salinity is a crucial challenge that restricts plant development and productivity. In this study, we aimed to report a promising marine-derived plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria that can empower wheat plants to survive upon salt stress. Thirty-one bacterial isolates derived from marine environments were isolated and assessed for PGP activities. Among these tested isolates, a strain coded as AE-EH1 showed promising PGP activities. Based on the phenotypic characterization, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, phylogenetic, and biochemical analyses, the selected isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. strain AE-EH1 and assigned an accession no. of OR144427. The target strain AE-EH1 could produce indole acetic acid, ammonia, and HCN, furthermore, it could fix atmospheric nitrogen and solubilize phosphate. Meanwhile, the AE-EH1 was characterized as a halotolerant bacterium with a tolerance limit of up to 15 % NaCl with optimum growth at 3 % NaCl. Interestingly, AE-EH1 showed a high in vitro antagonistic effect against 6 common plant pathogenic fungal species, including Botrytis fabae, B. cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Inoculating, AE-EH1 into wheat cvs. Sakha 95 and Masr 3 under salt stress markedly improved the salt tolerance of these wheat cultivars. Moreover, fresh and dry weights of wheat cultivars had improved compared to non-treated plants as well as chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids. Total carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids were increased in both Sakha 95 and Masr 3 cultivars as an influence of bacterial strain inoculation. Antioxidant peroxidase, catalase, and proline contents were accumulated in both wheat varieties. Our study provides a promising bacterial strain that can alleviate salt stress and enhance the growth and productivity of wheat under stress and normal conditions.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-e2d998d7f6d1404c8f8f04605f78b8102025-08-20T03:56:05ZengResearchersLinks, LtdNovel Research in Microbiology Journal2537-02862537-02942025-07-0194289308https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.NRMJ/2025/9.4.289.308Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine EnvironmentEman Hamada0Adel Eltoukhy1Metwally K. Mahfouz2Abdel Kareem S.H. Mohamed3Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, EgyptBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, EgyptDepartment of Biochemistry, Animal Health Research Institute, Sohag Branch, Agriculture Research Center, EgyptBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, EgyptSoil salinity is a crucial challenge that restricts plant development and productivity. In this study, we aimed to report a promising marine-derived plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria that can empower wheat plants to survive upon salt stress. Thirty-one bacterial isolates derived from marine environments were isolated and assessed for PGP activities. Among these tested isolates, a strain coded as AE-EH1 showed promising PGP activities. Based on the phenotypic characterization, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, phylogenetic, and biochemical analyses, the selected isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. strain AE-EH1 and assigned an accession no. of OR144427. The target strain AE-EH1 could produce indole acetic acid, ammonia, and HCN, furthermore, it could fix atmospheric nitrogen and solubilize phosphate. Meanwhile, the AE-EH1 was characterized as a halotolerant bacterium with a tolerance limit of up to 15 % NaCl with optimum growth at 3 % NaCl. Interestingly, AE-EH1 showed a high in vitro antagonistic effect against 6 common plant pathogenic fungal species, including Botrytis fabae, B. cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Inoculating, AE-EH1 into wheat cvs. Sakha 95 and Masr 3 under salt stress markedly improved the salt tolerance of these wheat cultivars. Moreover, fresh and dry weights of wheat cultivars had improved compared to non-treated plants as well as chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids. Total carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids were increased in both Sakha 95 and Masr 3 cultivars as an influence of bacterial strain inoculation. Antioxidant peroxidase, catalase, and proline contents were accumulated in both wheat varieties. Our study provides a promising bacterial strain that can alleviate salt stress and enhance the growth and productivity of wheat under stress and normal conditions.https://researcherslinks.com/current-issues/Mitigation-of-Salt-Stress-in-Two-Wheat/44/1/11490/htmlhalotolerant bacteriaplant growth promotionsalt stresssalt resistancewheat cultivars
spellingShingle Eman Hamada
Adel Eltoukhy
Metwally K. Mahfouz
Abdel Kareem S.H. Mohamed
Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment
Novel Research in Microbiology Journal
halotolerant bacteria
plant growth promotion
salt stress
salt resistance
wheat cultivars
title Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment
title_full Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment
title_fullStr Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment
title_full_unstemmed Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment
title_short Mitigation of Salt Stress in Two Wheat Cultivars by Promising PGP Halotolerant Bacillus sp. Strain AE-EH1 Isolated from a Marine Environment
title_sort mitigation of salt stress in two wheat cultivars by promising pgp halotolerant bacillus sp strain ae eh1 isolated from a marine environment
topic halotolerant bacteria
plant growth promotion
salt stress
salt resistance
wheat cultivars
url https://researcherslinks.com/current-issues/Mitigation-of-Salt-Stress-in-Two-Wheat/44/1/11490/html
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