Role of Secondary Metabolites from Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria in Combating Salinity Stress

Abstract

Increasing salinity and decreasing crop productivity are the two parallel problems, currently faced in agroecosystems across the globe. In the absence of proper remediation of salt stress in soil, the loss of productivity and quality has raised manifold. The saline-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are being realized as alleviators of salt stress. The capability of salt-tolerant PGPR in harsh environmental conditions could be beneficial for plant survival in saline soils. Secondary metabolites produced by salt-tolerant PGPR have also shown clear-cut role in improving plant physiological conditions under osmotic stress. Salt-tolerant PGPR and their metabolites can be the solution for increasing the productivity and remediation of saline soils in an eco-friendly manner. However, research on salt-tolerant PGPR and their metabolites is still in its primary phase and requires more global attention and application.