Study Finds Bacteria Help Plants Thrive in Salty Soils

Researchers at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom found that a type of naturally occurring soil bacteria called pseudomonads are consistently drawn to plant roots under salt stress. The bacteria stimulate crop plants to produce more lignin that acts as a shield to help them thrive in salty conditions caused by sea level rise, irrigation, or climate change. “By harnessing naturally occurring microbes like pseudomonads, bio‑based treatments could be developed that help crops grow in saline soils without heavy chemical inputs,” explained professor Dr. Jonathan Todd. “With vast areas of farmland already affected by salinity and more under threat, microbial solutions could become an essential tool for maintaining crop yields and ensuring food security.”