Role of rhizobacteria in alleviating salt stress

Abstract Salt stress is one of the most crucial environmental stresses affecting the crop growth and productivity worldwide. With an expanding area of salinity zones around the globe due to climate change, the excess use of chemical fertilizers and leaching of salts in the irrigated lands owing to anthropogenic activities furthermore magnifies the detrimental effect on plant productivity. Also, genetic improvement efforts to develop salt tolerant varieties have attained limited success due to the complexity of the genetic trait in spite of the great potential it holds. Hence, an alternative, ecofriendly and sustainable approach would definitely encompass the microbe based strategy for alleviating salt stress. Exploiting Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) has promising potential in reclaiming soil fertility following a significant increase in the productivity. This chapter reviews a series of mechanisms mediated by the PGPR in ameliorating salt stress in plants. Utilizing these beneficial organisms will not only be cost effective, but also the most viable approach suitable for wide abiotic and biotic stresses. Further, development of bioformulations which can act as biostimulant, bioprotectant, bioagents, bioremediants and biofertilizers made available to the end user will help in achieving a holistic result across the world.