Echinacea species, particularly Echinacea purpurea, provide bioactives with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory actions, yet clinical utility is constrained by poor stability and bioavailability. This PRISMA-guided systematic review searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect from inception to 15 December 2024 and included 22 eligible studies evaluating Echinacea-derived nanoparticles and nanoformulations. Platforms comprised Ag, Au, ZnO, FeOOH, polymeric, lipid, and hybrid systems characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM/TEM, XRD, and HPLC. Across studies, nanoformulation improved bioactive retention, bioavailability, targeting, and pathogen inhibition, with frequent reports of immune support and wound-healing benefits. Standardization, safety, and clinical trials remain essential for safe clinical translation.

Zea mays L. (maize) is a globally important cereal crop whose productivity is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, particularly drought and salinity. Biochar (BC) and plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3) have been proposed as sustainable strategies to enhance crop performance under adverse conditions; however, evidence for their combined effects under controlled stress environments remains limited. This pot experiment (10 kg soil per pot) was conducted under a Completely Randomized Design to evaluate BC and GA3, alone and in combination, under drought stress (40

Acne-associated and other skin-related bacterial infections are increasingly difficult to manage because of antimicrobial resistance and the need for safer therapeutic alternatives. Portulaca oleracea is a medicinal plant with recognized bioactive potential, yet its antibacterial activity can potentially be enhanced through nano-elicitation. Unlike studies that examine nanoparticles as direct antimicrobials, this work investigated green-synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles as foliar elicitors to improve the antibacterial potential of P. oleracea extracts. This approach links sustainable nanoparticle synthesis with medicinal-plant priming to generate extracts with greater activity against acne-associated pathogens. Zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and alpha-iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous Psidium guajava leaf extract and verified by standard physicochemical characterization. P. oleracea plants received foliar applications of 100 ppm nanoparticle suspensions under greenhouse conditions, after which methanolic aerial-part extracts were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Cutibacterium acnes. Iron oxide treatment produced the strongest response without visible phytotoxicity. By day 25, FeNP-treated plants reached 10.7 ± 0.7 cm in height and 12 ± 1 leaves, compared with 9.1 ± 0.6 cm and 10 ± 1 leaves in untreated controls. Extracts from FeNP-treated plants also showed the highest antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 20.0 ± 1.7 mm against S. aureus, 15.7 ± 1.5 mm against E. coli, and 18.3 ± 1.5 mm against C. acnes. These findings show that foliar nano-elicitation, particularly with FeNPs, can enhance plant growth and strengthen the antibacterial potential of P. oleracea. Because phytochemical changes were inferred indirectly from FTIR patterns and antibacterial response rather than direct metabolite quantification, future studies should perform quantitative phytochemical profiling and confirm extract potency through MIC and MBC assays.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have emerged as a leading energy storage technology, powering everything from portable electronics to electric vehicles due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and low maintenance requirements. Growing demand for high-energy applications has exposed limitations in conventional electrode materials, driving the search for alternatives that offer higher capacity, better stability, and lower costs. Among these, binary transition metal oxides (BMOs) has gained significant attention as a promising anode material because of its excellent safety, non-toxicity, natural abundance, and environmental compatibility. Despite these advantages, BMOs suffers from inherently low electrical conductivity, which restricts electron transport and leads to poor rate performance—a major barrier to its widespread adoption in commercial batteries. To address these challenges, researchers have developed innovative strategies, such as combining BMOs with conductive additives like carbon or graphene to enhance electron transfer, engineering nanostructured morphologies to shorten ion diffusion pathways, and designing hybrid composites that leverage the strengths of multiple materials. Notably, graphene-based modifications have proven particularly effective, as graphene's exceptional conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and large surface area not only improve charge transfer but also mitigate volume expansion during cycling. These advances have significantly boosted the electrochemical performance of the BMO based-anode material, enabling higher capacities and longer lifespans. This review examines the progress in optimizing BMOs with a focus on graphene-enhanced composites that push the boundaries of rate capability and cycling stability. By analyzing recent breakthroughs and remaining obstacles, we highlight the path forward for developing next-generation LIBs that meet the escalating demands of modern energy storage.

This study investigated the individual and combined effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and lead (Pb) stress on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings. Treatments included EMF alone and three Pb concentrations (250, 500, and 750 µM PbCl2), applied singly or in combination, to evaluate impacts on growth, physiological traits, biochemical responses, and Pb accumulation. Plant height, pods per pot, total chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and protein contents were measured after 30 days, along with Pb content in plant tissues (µg g−1 dry weight). Pb stress caused strong dose-dependent reductions in growth and biochemical traits, with the most severe inhibition at 500 and 750 µM. EMF alone produced moderate suppression; however, under Pb stress, EMF significantly modified responses, as supported by significant EMF × Pb interactions for plant height, shoot soluble sugars, root protein, pods per pot, and Pb accumulation (two-way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05). Pb accumulation increased with increasing Pb concentration, but EMF consistently reduced tissue Pb content compared with Pb-only treatments at the same Pb level, indicating that EMF altered Pb uptake and/or internal distribution. Despite the reduction in Pb accumulation, combined EMF + Pb exposure resulted in the greatest impairment of growth, carbohydrate status, protein content, and yield at higher Pb levels. These findings demonstrate that Pb toxicity is the primary driver of chickpea growth inhibition, while EMF reshapes Pb stress responses in a concentration-dependent manner and antagonizes Pb accumulation under the conditions tested.

Morels (Morchella spp.) are highly valued edible and medicinal ascomycetes in temperate ecosystems, yet their taxonomy remains difficult because of marked morphological plasticity and the limited resolving power of single-locus markers. This study documents wild Morchella diversity from the Murree Hills, Pakistan, using an integrated morpho-cultural and molecular approach. Fifteen ascocarps collected from six localities during July-August 2024 were used for tissue isolation, yielding thirty-nine cultures, with multiple cultures recovered from individual ascocarps as independent isolation replicates. From these, nine representative isolates were selected for ITS-based sequencing and phylogenetic assessment. Culture recovery averaged 2.60 isolates per ascocarp, indicating successful establishment of cultures across sampling sites. Morphological and cultural observations supported the recognition of two principal forms: a pale morphotype assignable to the Esculenta clade (cf. Morchella deliciosa) and a darker morphotype affiliated with the Elata clade (within the Morchella elata complex). Bayesian ITS phylogeny and sequence-similarity comparisons supported this two-lineage pattern at the clade level. Because ITS alone is insufficient for confident delimitation of closely related Morchella species, these results should be regarded as preliminary lineage-level documentation rather than definitive species resolution. Nevertheless, this study provides baseline evidence for the occurrence of Esculenta- and Elata-affiliated morels in an understudied Himalayan region and establishes a foundation for future multilocus, population-level, and ecological investigations.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are increasingly recognized as environmentally sustainable biocontrol agents against agriculturally significant insect pests. However, their reproductive capacity and host compatibility vary among nematode species and insect hosts. To improve understanding of these interactions under Pakistani agro-ecological conditions, three EPN species Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema glaseri, and Oscheius sp. were evaluated for their reproductive performance against four lepidopteran pests: Spodoptera litura, Leucinodes orbonalis, Maruca vitrata, and Pectinophora gossypiella. Infective juvenile (IJ) emergence was quantified using White trap assays at four post-infection intervals (1, 3, 7, and 10 days), and data were analyzed through ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA), and heat map clustering. Among the tested species, S. feltiae demonstrated the highest reproductive potential, producing up to 18,900 IJs in S. litura and 15,590 in P. gossypiella, whereas M. vitrata supported the lowest reproduction (2300-2700 IJs). IJ emergence increased with larval instar, ranging from 1764 (2nd instar) to 5934 (4th instar) in S. litura. Molecular identification of the isolates was successfully performed using the 18S rRNA gene (partial sequence) and the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2 complete sequences). The corresponding GenBank accession numbers are: S. feltiae, S. glaseri, and Oscheius sp. Phylogenetic analysis using the Neighbor-Joining method in MEGA X, based on ClustalW-aligned sequences, supported species placement and revealed two major groupings corresponding to Steinernema and Oscheius, with Caenorhabditis elegans as the outgroup. Collectively, these results identify S. feltiae as a robust candidate for large-scale production and field application, particularly against S. litura and P. gossypiella, providing a scientific basis for its integration into sustainable biological control and integrated pest management (IPM) programs in Pakistan.

Citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, remains a major challenge to citrus production and highlights the need for alternatives to conventional bactericides. In this study, silver-selenium nanocomposites (Ag-Se NCs) were synthesized using garlic (Allium sativum L.) extract and characterized by Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) (plasmon peak similar to 400 nm), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (mean particle size similar to 73.7 nm), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)/Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirming elemental composition and phytochemical capping. Greenhouse evaluations using seven treatments (n = 20 plants each) showed that Ag-Se NCs reduced citrus canker severity significantly. At 200 mg L-1, Ag-Se NCs lowered the infection index from 19% in the pathogen control to similar to 1% and decreased the area under the disease progress curve by more than 90%. Treated plants exhibited improved physiological performance, including similar to 80% higher total chlorophyll and a similar to 30% increase in membrane stability compared with infected controls. Biochemical assessments indicated increases in proline, phenolics, and flavonoids (90-185%), and fruit-quality traits including juice content and ascorbic acid were restored to near-healthy levels. These results demonstrate that garlic-mediated Ag-Se NCs can mitigate disease symptoms and support physiological and fruit-quality recovery under greenhouse conditions. Further studies incorporating mechanistic analyses, broader dose responses, and field validation are recommended to confirm their suitability for integrated citrus canker management.

Plant-based iron oxide nanoparticles (PIONs) were evaluated for regulating arsenic (As) stress responses and detoxification mechanisms in maize (Zea mays L.) under controlled conditions. A 40-day pot experiment was conducted using washed sand supplemented at sowing with sodium arsenate (30 mg As kg⁻1) and foliar PIONs green-synthesized using Pinus roxburghii needle extract (100, 300, and 500 mg L⁻1; three sprays at weekly intervals). PIONs improved maize growth and physiology, increasing root length from 23.77 cm (control) to > 34 cm at the highest PION dose and enhancing chlorophyll a and b to 0.85 and 1.75 mg g⁻1 FW, respectively. PIONs also elevated stress metabolites (proline, soluble sugars, amino acids, phenolics) and antioxidant enzymes (APX, CAT, POD, SOD), indicating strengthened redox regulation. A key finding was the dual effect of PIONs on As accumulation: PIONs alone increased tissue As, with root As rising from 1.60 to 2.70 mg kg⁻1 (+ 68.8

Infestation resistance of hermetic plastic (HB) bags and non-hermetic polypropylene (PP) miniature bags for grain storage was studied against Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) under conditions simulating both external and internal infestation. Results showed that R. dominica successfully penetrated PP bags of 0.02-0.05 mm thickness but failed to perforate HB bags with 0.07 mm thickness. Externally released R. dominica caused grain weight loss in penetrated PP bags, while R. dominica surrounding HB bags experienced 100 % mortality. When R. dominica were released internally, HB bags again caused the highest R. dominica mortality (97 %) and the least grain weight loss (0.57 %), whereas PP bags caused significantly lower R. dominica mortality and greater grain damage (1.13-1.32 %). Despite the superior performance of HB bags to protect grains against R. dominica, overall results indicated that internal infestation caused lower mortality and greater grain losses than external infestation. Phosphine fumigation for internal infestation of these bags showed R. dominica mortality of 89-94 % in PP bags and 98.67 % in HB bags. However, high R. dominica mortality in HB bags even without fumigation indicated the inherent contribution of hermeticity to pest suppression. To simulate long-term field storage, bags were artificially damaged with two holes per bag. Fumigation of damaged bags showed 89-100 % mortality of R. dominica in PP bags and 100 % in HB bags. In the corresponding non-fumigated control treatment, R. dominica mortality in damaged HB bags was only 14 % and 2-5 % in PP bags. These results highlighted the importance of phosphine fumigation, which becomes essential for internal infestation in PP bags and for HB bags when their hermeticity is compromised. Se estudi & oacute; la resistencia a la infestaci & oacute;n de bolsas de pl & aacute;stico herm & eacute;ticas (HB) y bolsas miniatura de polipropileno (PP) no herm & eacute;ticas para el almacenamiento de granos contra Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) en condiciones que simulaban infestaciones tanto externas como internas. Los resultados mostraron que R. dominica penetr & oacute; con & eacute;xito bolsas de PP de 0,02 a 0,05 mm de espesor, pero no logr & oacute; perforar bolsas de HB de 0,07 mm de espesor. La liberaci & oacute;n externa de R. dominica caus & oacute; p & eacute;rdida de peso del grano en las bolsas de PP penetradas, mientras que R. dominica que rodeaban las bolsas de HB experimentaron una mortalidad del 100 %. Cuando R. dominica se liberaron internamente, las bolsas de HB causaron nuevamente la mayor mortalidad de R. dominica (97 %) y la menor p & eacute;rdida de peso del grano (0,57 %), mientras que las bolsas de PP causaron una mortalidad de R. dominica significativamente menor y un mayor da & ntilde;o al grano (1,13-1,32 %). A pesar del superior rendimiento de las bolsas de HB para proteger los granos contra R. dominica, los resultados generales indicaron que la infestaci & oacute;n interna caus & oacute; menor mortalidad y mayores p & eacute;rdidas de grano que la infestaci & oacute;n externa. La fumigaci & oacute;n con fosfina para la infestaci & oacute;n interna de estas bolsas mostr & oacute; una mortalidad de R. dominica del 89-94 % en las bolsas de PP y del 98,67 % en las bolsas de HB. Sin embargo, la alta mortalidad de R. dominica en las bolsas de HB, incluso sin fumigaci & oacute;n, indic & oacute; la contribuci & oacute;n inherente de la hermeticidad a la supresi & oacute;n de plagas. Para simular el almacenamiento en campo a largo plazo, se da & ntilde;aron artificialmente las bolsas con dos perforaciones por bolsa. La fumigaci & oacute;n de las bolsas da & ntilde;adas mostr & oacute; una mortalidad del 89-100 % de R. dominica en las bolsas de PP y del 100 % en las bolsas de HB. En el tratamiento de control correspondiente sin fumigaci & oacute;n, la mortalidad de R. dominica en las bolsas de HB da & ntilde;adas fue de solo el 14 % y del 2-5 % en las bolsas de PP. Estos resultados destacaron la importancia de la fumigaci & oacute;n con fosfina, que se vuelve esencial para la infestaci & oacute;n interna en las bolsas de PP y en las bolsas de HB cuando su hermeticidad se ve comprometida.

Fungal diseases reduce the ornamental and medicinal value of Coleus scutellarioides, while reliance on synthetic fungicides raises concerns regarding resistance development and environmental safety. Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts offers a potentially safer alternative for disease suppression. This study evaluated Moringa oleifera leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles and assessed their antifungal activity against Rhizopus stolonifer under greenhouse conditions. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous M. oleifera leaf extract and characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and SEM. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using four treatments: control, 2 ppm, 4 ppm, and 7 ppm. Each treatment had three biological replicates. Disease severity and disease incidence were recorded 7 days after inoculation and analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD test at p < 0.05. UV–Vis analysis showed a distinct absorption peak at 595 nm. FTIR confirmed Fe–O absorption in the 400–600 cm⁻¹ region, while XRD identified crystalline α-Fe₂O₃. SEM showed flake-like aggregated particle domains ranging from 175 to 247 nm. Disease severity declined from 73.33

Iron is an essential micronutrient involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis, redox metabolism, and antioxidant enzyme function, and its availability becomes particularly important under salinity stress. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and melatonin on the salt stress response of Mentha × piperita L. A controlled greenhouse experiment was conducted using a three-factor factorial design with melatonin (0 and 0.1 g L-1), IONPs (0 and 0.5 g L-1), and NaCl (0 and 100  mM). Treatments were applied as foliar sprays for four weeks, and plant growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative damage markers, membrane stability, and antioxidant enzyme activities were assessed. Salinity markedly reduced leaf, shoot, and root growth, decreased the chlorophyll content, and increased hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage. In contrast, melatonin and IONPs alleviated these adverse effects, with the combined treatment producing the strongest response. Under saline conditions, the combined application of IONPs and melatonin increased shoot and root growth, improved chlorophyll retention, reduced oxidative damage, and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase relative to NaCl-treated plants. These results indicate that the combined treatment improved salt tolerance by strengthening antioxidant defense, preserving membrane integrity, and sustaining photosynthetic performance. These findings suggest that biogenic iron oxide nanoparticles, particularly when integrated with melatonin, may serve as effective nano-biostimulant tools for improving peppermint resilience under salinity stress. This study provides a physiological and biochemical basis for the use of iron-based nanomaterials and plant bioregulators in the management of salt-affected cultivation systems.

The paper examines the ethnomedical value of the wild flora in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan, and how it can be used to provide sustainable food resources and to support local health care. 29 ethnomedical plants in 20 botanical categories were recorded through semi-structured interviews with 534 individuals. Fabaceae and Amaranthaceae were the two most common families, with 11% each of the known flora, respectively. Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and the Jaccard Index (JI) are a few examples of the quantitative ethnobotanical indices that helped determine the cultural relevance, dependability, and consistency of the plant use. Chenopodium album and Chenopodium murale gave the highest values of UV (1.0), meaning that these two plants are highly therapeutically acceptable within the community. The health conditions that had the highest unanimity were lice infestation (ICF = 0.998) and arsenic toxicity (ICF = 0.996). Lysimachia arvensis was the highest FL (100) in the treatment of jaundice. On comparison of 45 ethnobotanical research published between 2015 and 2022, districts such as Jhang were not very overlapping (JI = 0.78), which demonstrates region-specific ethnomedical knowledge, and Faisalabad had the most similarities (JI = 13.9). It is interesting to mention that novel, unreported medicinal properties were mentioned in 19 plant species, including Taraxacum officinale, Calotropis gigantea, Moringa oleifera, and Abutilon indicum. All in all, the findings demonstrate the relative efficiency of the indigenous knowledge, the potential of such practice in the context of pharmaceutical benefit, and the importance of the preservation of such cultural heritage and the adequate inclusion of such information into modern healthcare and biodiversity management practices.

Untreated municipal wastewater is widely used for irrigation in peri-urban agriculture where freshwater is limited, yet its effects on edible vegetable crops remain context dependent. This study evaluated the morphological, physiological, phytochemical, and antioxidant responses of Allium cepa L. and Allium sativum L. under untreated municipal wastewater irrigation compared with freshwater irrigation in a pot experiment conducted in Sialkot, Pakistan. Wastewater had higher pH, electrical conductivity, suspended solids, and organic load than control water, indicating a chemically more complex irrigation source. Relative to the control, wastewater irrigation enhanced several visible growth traits in both species. In A. cepa, plant height, stem length, leaf size, and root length increased by 2.0%, 111.8%, 95.2%, and 57.4%, respectively, whereas in A. sativum the corresponding increases were 12.9%, 9.5%, 21.1%, and 73.5%. Reproductive traits also increased, although some large proportional changes, particularly garlic flower number, should be interpreted cautiously. In contrast, wastewater irrigation reduced chlorophyll and antioxidant activity in both species. Total chlorophyll declined by 33.7% in A. cepa and 22.4% in A. sativum, while antioxidant activity decreased across leaves, roots, and stems, with the strongest reduction observed in garlic stems. Qualitative phytochemical profiles shifted between treatments, but these observations were descriptive only and were not interpreted as statistically robust treatment effects. Overall, untreated municipal wastewater promoted several external growth traits but did not improve physiological or biochemical quality-related responses. These findings indicate a mixed plant response and suggest that visible growth enhancement under wastewater irrigation should not be interpreted as evidence of improved crop quality or safety.

Early blight, caused by Alternaria solani, is a destructive tomato disease, and repeated use of synthetic fungicides raises concerns regarding resistance development, residues, environmental contamination, and human-health risks. This in vitro study evaluated Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.-mediated silver nanoparticles (g-AgNPs), copper oxide nanoparticles (g-CuO NPs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (g-ZnO NPs) against A. solani isolate ASIB-15. Nanoparticles were synthesized using leaf extract and characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, EDX, SEM, and TEM. Antifungal activity was assessed at 10, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL using inhibition-zone diameter and colony-diameter-based mycelial-growth inhibition as complementary endpoints. Mean particle sizes were 14.0 ± 9.5 nm for g-AgNPs, 6.93 ± 1.92 nm for g-CuO NPs, and 28.5 ± 6.5 nm for g-ZnO NPs, supporting their nanoscale range within this assay system. The synthesized nanoparticles showed nanoscale morphology and concentration-dependent antifungal activity. At 100 µg/mL, g-AgNPs produced the strongest response, with a 16 mm inhibition zone and about 72

Fungal contamination of chili crops by aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus species poses serious health and trade challenges worldwide. We investigated the antifungal efficacy of aqueous, ethanolic, and n-hexane extracts from 10 medicinal plants (Caesalpinia bonduc, Melia azedarach, Portulaca oleracea, Sonchus oleraceus, Cressa cretica, Cymbopogon citratus, Acacia nilotica, Cassia fistula, Rhazya stricta, and Bambusa vulgaris) against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus infecting chili varieties Sanam and Longi. Plant extracts were tested at concentrations ranging from 10% to 50% using the poisoned food technique on potato dextrose agar, and their protective effects were evaluated further through spore suspension assays and pathogenicity tests on chili fruit. Our results showed dose-dependent inhibition of mycelial growth, with aqueous extracts of P. oleracea and B. vulgaris achieving more than 50% inhibition at 10%. At higher concentrations (40%–50%), extracts of C. fistula, C. bonduc, and S. oleraceus displayed the strongest antifungal activity, reaching up to 74% inhibition. Ethanolic and n-hexane extracts of M. azedarach, R. stricta, and C. citratus also demonstrated significant activity, with inhibition exceeding 70% in some cases. Pathogenicity assays revealed that untreated chili fruit developed large lesions (up to ∼21 mm in Sanam and ∼9 mm in Longi), whereas treatment with 20% to 30% extracts reduced lesion diameters markedly to <2 mm, with C. fistula, C. citratus, and B. vulgaris providing near-complete suppression of infection. These findings highlight the potential of selected plant extracts, particularly aqueous and ethanolic formulations, as natural antifungal agents for managing aflatoxin-producing fungi in chili crops.

Drought stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting crop productivity and ecosystem stability in arid and semi-arid regions. The use of stress-adapted plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represents a sustainable strategy to enhance crop resilience while maintaining soil ecological function. This study characterized a desert-adapted, halotolerant Exiguobacterium sp. C-20, isolated from the rhizosphere of Panicum antidotale in the Cholistan Desert (Pakistan), for its plant growth-promoting traits and its ability to mitigate drought stress under controlled conditions. The strain exhibited strong phosphate-solubilizing activity, produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and generated ammonia in vitro, confirming its functional potential as a PGPR. In greenhouse experiments, seed and soil inoculation of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids (G-3 and G-7) exposed to drought (40% field capacity) significantly improved photosynthetic performance, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll stability (SPAD values), biomass accumulation, and tissue moisture content compared with non-inoculated controls. These improvements reflect enhanced plant physiological performance under water deficit rather than speculative mechanisms. Overall, the findings identify Exiguobacterium sp. C-20 as a promising microbial resource for developing eco-sustainable bioinoculants to improve drought tolerance and productivity in dryland agroecosystems.