Authors: Sharma B, Negi R, Jyothi SR, Gupta A, Jhamta S, Yadav N, Kaur N, Puri P, Thakur SS, Bagavathiappan S, Thakur N, Shreaz S, Madouh TA, Yadav AN
According to estimates from United Nations environmental program, salinity affects about 20% of agricultural land and 50% of farmland worldwide. Plants react to salinity stress by undergoing distinctive physiochemical, morphological, and molecular adaptations. Nonetheless, a number of mitigating techniques are also employed to address the severe consequences of salinity. Microbiological solutions are extremely sought in sustainable agriculture since they offer an organic, economical, and environmentally secure substitute for boosting plant development and output. These microbes greatly increase plant resilience towards salinity stress by improving nutrient absorption and water uptake, which is frequently hindered by high salinity. They strengthen plant's defense system by boosting the synthesis of antioxidants and osmoprotectants, which lessen the damage caused by salt stress. Furthermore, plant growth promoting (PGP) microorganisms promote healthier plant growth by lowering levels of stress hormone ethylene and providing growth-promoting compounds including auxins and gibberellins. The PGP microbes uses different strategies to stimulate the genes that keep ion balance stable, mainly by maintaining the expression of transporters and osmoregulation related genes, which is essential for plants to survive under stressed conditions. Thus, defining and interpreting plant-microbe interaction in term of protection against salinity stress has become increasingly important due to the ongoing impact of growing climate changes on plants. Concurrently, it becomes imperative to produce more profound understanding of plant stress-reduction processes in order to translate them into increased productivity. Several cutting-edge omic technologies have allowed us to learn more about the composition and capabilities of microorganisms linked with plants.
Keywords: Abiotic stress; Adaptation strategies; Omics technology; Soil salinization; Sustainable agriculture;
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41245209/
DOI: 10.1007/s12298-025-01654-7