Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 28 3 2026 05 01 Bio-Amelioration of Saline Soil Using Aeluropus littoralis, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (AMF) and Salt-Resistant PGPB 731 745 16859 10.48311/jast.2026.16859 EN Masoumeh Zarei Department of Soil Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Elham Malekzadeh Department of Soil Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Alireza Movahedi Naeini Department of Soil Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 This study aimed to evaluate the capability of the halophyte <em>A. littoralis</em> in symbiosis with <em>Rhizophagus intraradices</em> and <em>Nocardia halotolerans,</em> an indigenous bacterium of saline soils, on phyto-extraction of Na under saline conditions. Salinity treatments included 0 (S0), 100 mM NaCl (S1), 200 mM NaCl (S2), 100 mM NaCl+50mM K₂SO₄ (S3), and 200 mM NaCl+50mM K₂SO₄ (S4) levels. Plant fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll content decreased as salinity increased up to S2 level and increased thereafter. Plant root colonization in the inoculation and co-inoculation of AMF+SR-PGPB (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Salt-Resistant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria) were similar. Compared to the S0 treatment, root colonization in the AMF group decreased by 23.5, 32.6, 13.5, and 26.7% under S1, S2, S3, and S4 treatments, respectively. In the Bacteria+AMF group, the reduction was smaller, with decreases of 2.8%, 3.4%, and an increase of 6.8 and 1.4% under S1, S2, S3, and S4 treatments, respectively. These results indicate that co-inoculation with PGPB mitigated the negative effects of salinity on root colonization. The root and soil glomalin contents increased as salinity increased. Root glomalin in plants inoculated by AMF+SR-PGPB was more than in a single inoculation of AMF under salt stress. This study highlights the potential application of salt-tolerant bacteria and AMF as effective strategies for enhancing plant growth and productivity in saline environments, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices in affected regions. https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16859_9300f7b7b99d92c0acf83ea618010e16.pdf