Autochthonous Biostimulants as a Promising Biological Tool to Promote Lettuce Growth and Development under Salinity Conditions

Abstract

An adapted sustainable management program was used to evaluate lettuce tolerance to salt stress using autochthonous biostimulants (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and compost). Salinity harmed plant growth, root colonization, and physiology. However, biostimulants application, especially AMF and PGPR treatments, significantly improved lettuce growth and salinity tolerance (120% and 50%, respectively, for biomass; 60% and 20%, respectively, for stomatal conductance; and 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, for chlorophyll fluorescence) compared to non-inoculated and compost-free controls under stressed conditions.

Keywords

• salt stress
• endogenous mycorrhiza
• PGPR
• compost
• stress tolerance