Use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to ameliorate the performance of lentil under salinity

In the current agricultural model, the increasing soil salinity, especially in arid and semiarid regions, causes environmental and economic losses. Inoculation of plant with growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be a sustainable strategy to increase plant abiotic stress tolerance mainly in the early vulnerable stage of their growth. The efficiency of PGPR inoculation was evaluated in three Italian lentil accessions and two Pakistan native varieties differing in salinity tolerance. Pseudomonas putida (6), Pseudomonas fluorescens (6K) and Serratia ficaria (W10) were used as bio-inoculants. Seedling growth was detected 16 days after NaCl treatments. Results showed that in absence of salinity, all strains increased differently the growth of lentils compared to the un-inoculated ones. Inoculum significantly increased the growth of the most salt sensitive in comparison to the most salt resistant varieties. 6 and 6K were the most effectivegrowth- inducers under salinity stress. A specificity between PGPR and lentil was evident. 6K mostly improved biomass and growth of the Italian accessions, while the strain 6 mostly affected the Pakistan landraces.