Sustainable agriculture is threatened by salinity stress
because
of the low yield quality and low crop production. Rhizobacteria that
promote plant growth modify physiological and molecular pathways to
support plant development and reduce abiotic stresses. The recent
study aimed to assess the tolerance capacity and impacts ofBacillussp. PM31 on the growth, physiological, and molecular
responses of maize to salinity stress. In comparison to uninoculated
plants, the inoculation ofBacillussp. PM31 improved
the agro-morphological traits [shoot length (6%), root length (22%),
plant height (16%), fresh weight (39%), dry weight (29%), leaf area
(11%)], chlorophyll [Chla(17%), Chlb(37%), total chl (22%)], carotenoids (15%), proteins (40%), sugars
(43%), relative water (11%), flavonoids (22%), phenols (23%), radical
scavenging capacity (13%), and antioxidants. TheBacillussp. PM31-inoculated plants showed a reduction in the oxidative stress
indicators [electrolyte leakage (12%), H2O2(9%),
and MDA (32%)] as compared to uninoculated plants under salinity and
increased the level of osmolytes [free amino acids (36%), glycine
betaine (17%), proline (11%)]. The enhancement of plant growth under
salinity was further validated by the molecular profiling ofBacillussp. PM31. Moreover, these physiological and molecular
mechanisms were accompanied by the upregulation of stress-related
genes (APX and SOD). Our study found thatBacillussp. PM31 has a crucial and substantial role in reducing salinity
stress through physiological and molecular processes, which may be
used as an alternative approach to boost crop production and yield.