USE OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA AGAINST SALT STRESS FOR TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) SEEDLING GROWTH

Salt stress affects many aspects of plant metabolism and as a result, growth and yield are reduced. The aim in this study was to determine the effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on tomato plants under salt stress. With this aim, the 'Interland F-1' cv. and bacterial isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis CA41/1, Pseudomonas putida 18/1K, Pseudomonas putida S5/4ep, and Pseudomonas putida 30 were used. Salt application was completed in two different doses of 25 and 50 mM NaCl when seedlings reached the stage of 3 true leaves. At the end of the study, in addition to seedling development criteria, some nutrient element contents and rates (K, Ca, Na, K/Na and Ca/Na), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) and photosynthetic pigment contents were determined. In the stress environment, PGPR inoculation increased K content by up to 10%, while apart from isolate P. putida no.30, the other isolates lowered Na content by up to 18%. Additionally, 18/1K and S5/4ep isolates were identified to reduce membrane injury index by up to 97%. It was identified that CA41/1, 18/1K and S5/4ep isolates were more effective against salt stress, especially. In general, the plant tolerance levels induced by the bacteria were identified to increase with the increase in salt stress.