Document Type : Research paper
Authors
1
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
2
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
3
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City
4
Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
10.22059/ijhst.2025.386270.972
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of sodic-saline soil conditions on the growth and development of Celosia argentea L., with a focus on the role of anions in modifying rhizospheric bacterial composition and plant morphological plasticity. The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment, with soil salinization achieved using different sodium salts (sodium sulphate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium phosphate, and sodium nitrate) at varying concentrations (50, 500, and 5000 ppm). The results showed that sodic salinity significantly impacted plant growth, with reductions in plant height (up to 49% at 5000 ppm NaCl), leaf number (up to 38.8% at 5000 ppm Na2CO3), and foliar yield (up to 54.2% at 5000 ppm NaCl). However, plants treated with phosphate and nitrate anions exhibited improved growth parameters, with increases in seed weight per plant (up to 28% at 50 ppm NaNO3) and foliar yield (up to 18% at 50 ppm Na3PO4). Interestingly, nitrate and sulfate treatments demonstrated some mitigating effects on salinity stress, suggesting potential for enhancing plant performance. Furthermore, the study examined the impact of sodic salinity on the rhizospheric bacterial community. Five dominant rhizospheric bacterial isolates were identified, including Klebsiella aerogenes, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Bacillus safensis, and Enterobacter cloacae. These isolates exhibited potential plant growth-promoting traits, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and the production of phytohormones. These findings highlight the significant impact of anion composition on plant responses to sodic salinity and underscore the importance of understanding the rhizosphere microbiome in mitigating the detrimental effects of salinity stress.
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