Development of Halotolerant Microbial Consortia for Salt Stress Mitigation and Sustainable Tomato Production in Sodic Soils: An Enzyme Mechanism Approach

Salt stress caused by sodic soils is an important constraint that impacts the production of crucial solanaceous vegetable crops globally. Halotolerant poly-extremophiles rhizobacteria can inhabit hostile environments like salinity, drought, etc. The present study was aimed to design a halotolerant micro-formulation using highly salt-tolerant bacterial strains previously isolated from salt-tolerant rice and wheat rhizosphere in sodic soil. Nine halotolerant isolates were examined for plant growth-promoting traits and biomass production in pot studies with sodic soil of pH 9.23 in tomato. Compatible, efficient isolates were aimed to be formulated into different consortia like PGPR-C1, PGPR-C2 and, PGPR-C3 for field evaluation in sodic soils of pH 9.14. Halotolerant rhizobacterial consortia (PGPR-C3) comprising Lysinibacillus spp. and Bacillus spp. were found to produce extracellular enzymes like amylase, protease, cellulase, and lipase, showing significantly enhanced vegetative parameters, yield and lycopene content of tomato hybrid NS585 under salt-stressed sodic soils. PGPR-C3 consortia also showed enhanced plant growth-promoting activities and halo tolerance like high Indole acetic acid production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, and antioxidative enzyme activity over the uninoculated control. Further, inoculation with PGPR-C3 consortia resulted in the efficient exclusion of Na+ ions from the rhizosphere through increased absorption of K+. Results of the study reveal that inoculation with PGPR-C3 consortia could alleviate the salt stress and promotes the successful cultivation of tomato crop in sodic soils. It can be considered the best option for eco-friendly, sustainable cultivation of vegetables like a tomato in sodic soils with a high pH range of up to 9.14.