Halotolerant Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Associated with Plants from Arid Soils

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth; however, its availability is severely limited in arid, saline, and alkaline soils due to its fixation in insoluble forms. This project focuses on the isolation, characterization, and molecular identification of halotolerant phosphate-solubilizing bacteria associated with plants growing in arid environments.The study investigates the ability of these bacteria to solubilize both inorganic and organic phosphorus, produce plant growth-promoting compounds, and tolerate abiotic stresses such as high salinity, pH variation, and elevated temperatures. Selected strains are further evaluated for their capacity to enhance plant phosphorus uptake, growth, and photosynthetic performance under phosphorus-limited conditions.The generated data aim to improve our understanding of plant-microbe interactions in extreme environments and to support the development of microbial bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture in phosphorus-deficient soils.