Bio-Stimulatory Effect of Halophilic Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria on Foeniculum vulgare Performance under Salt Stress Conditions

Abstract

Plants are continuously exposed to various abiotic stresses throughout their life cycle, among which the salinity represents the most detrimental factor. So, this study evaluated the bio-stimulatory effects of three halophilic strains as ecofriendly agent under salt stress conditions on growth, yield (fed) and quantity of fennel an experiment done in two winter seasons 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 at the El-Sabahia Agricultural Research Station (Latitude 31° 13' 4.76" N and longitude 29° 58"26.94" E) in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was a completely randomized design with three replications. The eight experimental treatments included Control, Nitratireductor shengliensis Li1 PQ058684, Roseibium album Li8 PQ059401 and Halomonas elongate Sar13 PQ059853, (Li1+ Li8), (Li1 +Sar13), (Li8 + Sar13) and (Li1 +Li8 + Sar13) (Mixing treatment) theses strains obtained from previous study, the bacterial strains were added in two methods: Soil drenches (S) and foliar application (F). The results indicated that the significant differences between treatments in terms of vegetative growth traits, yield attributes, and applications exhibited the highest significant effects on most vegetative growth traits and yield traits with increment percentage (plant height), (Umbels number), (number of branches), order compared with the general control.  All treatment applications exhibited the highest significant effect on some chemical constituents, oil content and carbohydrates contents with an increment percentage compared with the general control. Nutrient contents in the fresh, dry tissues and seeds were also increased positively change in the percentages of N, P and K content.