Comparative Meta-genomic Analysis of Root-Associated Microbiomes and Soil Microbiomes of PDL1 and PSL9 in Normal and Saline Soils.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study investigates the root-associated and soil microbiomes of two genotypes, PDL1 and PSL9,(first ever salt tolerant variety) under normal and saline soil conditions using a metagenomic approach. Samples were analyzed to assess taxonomic diversity, functional potential, and microbial shifts induced by salinity.Taxonomic profiling revealed that Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota were the dominant phyla in both root-associated and soil microbiomes, with variations depending on salinity and genotype. Genera such as Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium were prevalent in root-associated microbiomes under normal soil, while Lentzea and Clostridium showed increased abundance in saline conditions. Functional annotation highlighted salinity-specific enrichment of pathways involved in osmotic regulation, stress response, and nitrogen metabolism, particularly in root-associated microbiomes.Alpha and beta diversity analyses confirmed significant shifts in microbial community structure between normal and saline conditions, suggesting a functional adaptation of the microbiomes to salinity stress. The findings provide insights into the role of plant-microbe interactions in mitigating the effects of salinity and identify potential microbial candidates for bioaugmentation strategies to improve crop resilience.