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Regenerative agriculture aims to boost native biodiversity and ensure sustainable production. Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) enhance crop yield through improved nutrient use efficiency or stress tolerance. Utilizing synthetic bacterial communities (SynCom) tailored to specific challenges holds promise for enhancing plant resilience. However, challenges include designing microbial consortia and selecting SynCom application techniques. This study tested four PGPB SynCom application methods on tomato plants to evaluate their effectiveness in promoting plant resistance and recovery from short extreme heat waves. Non-invasive phenotyping techniques were used to assess plant responses to three delivery methods (watering, foliar spray, and alginate spheres immobilization) under heat stress. Plants treated with the marine PGPB SynCom through methods like leaf spraying or encapsulation in alginate spheres exhibited improved resilience in terms of Kautsky curve intensity and shape, indicating better photochemical apparatus function. These techniques also facilitated post-stress recovery. Deep photochemical analysis revealed SynCom-induced improvements in the plant's photochemical apparatus, particularly the PS II donor side. Moreover, it was also possible to observe that upon stress relief these two techniques, alongside the plants inoculated throughout watering were able to recover their photochemical profiles. Analysing the Fv/Fm values, plants inoculated through watering, alginate beads and leaf spray can be considered heat-tolerant, a characteristic conserved throughout the three sampling moments. Heat-wave exposure led to an increase in the energy absorbed by the non-inoculated plants as a counteractive measure to overcome the low energy use efficiency observed (low trapping and transported energy fluxes). The reduction in stress impact was attributed to SynCom's ACC-deaminase production, which lowered ethylene accumulation, promoting growth and photosynthetic ef

La biofertilización con bacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal (PGPR) es una técnica ecológica que podría optimizar la fertilización química y el aporte de agua en cultivos de fresa. Este tipo de cultivo recibe grandes proporciones de agua y fertilizantes para obtener una producción adecuada y satisfacer la demanda mundial, lo cual está relacionado con problemas medioambientales, como la contaminación de aguas, la salinización y la degradación del suelo. La provincia de Huelva, España, es uno de los principales productores de este fruto a nivel mundial, y el 75% de la producción se concentra en las inmediaciones del Parque Nacional de Doñana. Es del acuífero que alimenta a este entorno natural de donde se obtiene el agua para regar los cultivos. Todo ello supone una amenaza para el parque y los ecosistemas que de él dependen. Por esta razón se ha llevado a cabo un estudio sobre el efecto de la biofertilización bacteriana en cultivos de fresa en los que se ha reducido la fertirrigación en un 30%. Para ello, se ha analizado la calidad nutricional de las fresas en términos de metabolitos secundarios (fenoles totales, flavonoides y antocianinas) y de capacidad antioxidantes; y se ha estudiado la comunidad de hongos y bacterias de la rizosfera. Por un lado, la actividad antioxidante total se mantuvo, independientemente del tratamiento que se aplicó. Sin embargo, las concentraciones de polifenoles, flavonoides y antocianinas aumentaron, al reducir el aporte de insumos. Por otra parte, la biofertilización con insumos óptimos aumentó la concentración de metabolitos secundarios, pero estos se mantienen o disminuyen al reducir el aporte de fertilización química y agua. En cuanto a las comunidades microbianas de la rizosfera, no se observaron grandes diferencias en la estructura de estas, aunque la proporción de hongos micorrícicos arbusculares fue mayor en fresa inoculada con reducción de fertirrigación.

The impact of multifactorial abiotic stress combinations on plant functional responses remains controversial, and general patterns of response are yet to emerge. This knowledge gap is particularly relevant for species with innate tolerance to environmental stress. Using the halophyte Salicornia ramosissima as a model species, we performed a multifactorial study with 16 experimental scenarios that included or not beneficial microorganisms in order to quantify their impact on plant growth, photosynthetic performance, osmotic adjustment and ion homeostasis. The experimental scenarios were characterized by the combination of four factors with two levels (salinity: 171 and 510 mM NaCl; water stress: yes and no; temperature min/max range: 14/25 and 18/29ºC and atmospheric CO2 concentration: 400 and 700 ppm). A plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) consortium was used as a proxy for positive biological interaction. The results revealed that the multifactorial stress combinations triggered unique functional responses, depending on the stress factors involved. However, there was an overall more negative impact on plant functional traits under the most extreme scenario (i.e., 510 mM NaCl + water stress + high temperature). Interestingly, the presence of PGPR was able to reverse this negative influence, although this effect was negligible under non-stressful conditions. Furthermore, the positive effect of PGPR was even magnified when coexisting with elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration. This response is associated with mitigation of the negative impacts of suboptimal factor combinations on plant growth, photosynthetic performance/efficiency, and water/nutrient homeostasis. Therefore, we conclude that the positive impact of microorganisms on halophyte tolerance in complex environmental matrices would only be determinant under extreme conditions in which plant intrinsic tolerance mechanisms would not be sufficient. Remarkably, this effect could be accentuated by increasi

Rice is one of the most important crops in the world and is considered a strategic crop for food security. Furthermore, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers to obtain high yields causes environmental problems. A sustainable alternative includes taking advantage of beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth. Here, we investigate the effect of five bacterial biofertilizers from halophytes on growth, and we investigate photosynthetic efficiency in rice plants grown under saline conditions (0 and 85 mmol L−1 NaCl) and future climate change scenarios, including increased CO2 concentrations and temperature (400/700 ppm and 25/+4 °C, respectively). Biofertilizers 1–4 increased growth by 9–64% in plants grown with and without salt in both CO2- temperature combinations, although there was no significant positive effect on the net photosynthetic rate of rice plants. In general, biofertilizer 1 was the most effective at 400 ppm CO2 and at 700 ppm CO2 +4 °C in the absence of salt. Inocula 1–5 also stimulated plant length at high CO2 levels without salt. Finally, the positive effect of biofertilization was attenuated in the plants grown under the interaction between salt and high CO2. This highlights the significance of studying biofertilization under stress interaction to establish the real potential of biofertilizers in the context of climate change conditions.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) modes of action are highly complex and the totality of mechanisms they are able to use for plant growth or stress amelioration remains unknown. Although there are well documented bacterial mechanisms (nitrogen fixation, phytohormones production, etc.), there are many plant responses to PGPB at the molecular level that are still clueless. Omics sciences offer large-scale and untargeted approaches to study them. Concretely, proteomics may unravel key events through the observation of protein expression dynamics in plants after PGPB inoculation. We summarized and discussed the existing literature about proteomic studies on plant response to PGPB, with special emphasis in crops. We also developed several meta-analyses to merge results of independent studies and detect potential key changes in plant proteome, through most common differentially expressed proteins. We found that effects of PGPB in plant growth were highly related to overexpression of ROS-reduction proteins, promotion of the photosynthetic machinery, transcription (especially histone-mediated), cell architecture, energy metabolism and nutrient uptake. On the other hand, PGPB inoculation of plants under different stresses generally induced the expression of ROS-related proteins, HSP for protein processing and proteasomes. We also observed an overlap between pathways, acting as general and shared responses to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. Finally, we brought to the fore gaps of knowledge in the field for further research.

In this work, we studied the combined effect of increased temperature and atmospheric CO2, salt and drought stress, and inoculation with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth and some nutritional parameters of the edible halophyte Salicornia ramosissima. We found that the increase in temperature and atmospheric CO2, combined with salt and drought stresses, led to important changes in S. ramosissima fatty acids (FA), phenols, and oxalate contents, which are compounds of great importance for human health. Our results suggest that the S. ramosissima lipid profile will change in a future climate change scenario, and that levels of oxalate and phenolic compounds may change in response to salt and drought stress. The effect of inoculation with PGPR depended on the strains used. Some strains induced the accumulation of phenols in S. ramosissima leaves at higher temperature and CO2 while not altering FA profile but also led to an accumulation of oxalate under salt stress. In a climate change scenario, a combination of stressors (temperature, salinity, drought) and environmental conditions (atmospheric CO2, PGPR) will lead to important changes in the nutritional profiles of edible plants. These results may open new perspectives for the nutritional and economical valorization of S. ramosissima

Amid climate change, heatwave events are expected to increase in frequency and severity. As a result, yield losses in viticulture due to heatwave stress have increased over the years. As one of the most important crops in the world, an eco-friendly stress mitigation strategy is greatly needed. The present work aims to evaluate the physiological fitness improvement by two marine plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria consortia in Vitis vinifera cv. Antão Vaz under heatwave conditions. To assess the potential biophysical and biochemical thermal stress feedback amelioration, photochemical traits, pigment and fatty acid profiles, and osmotic and oxidative stress biomarkers were analysed. Bioaugmented grapevines exposed to heatwave stress presented a significantly enhanced photoprotection capability and higher thermo-stability, exhibiting a significantly lower dissipation energy flux than the non-inoculated plants. Additionally, one of the rhizobacterial consortia tested improved light-harvesting capabilities by increasing reaction centre availability and preserving photosynthetic efficiency. Rhizobacteria inoculation expressed an osmoprotectant promotion, revealed by the lower osmolyte concentration while maintaining leaf turgidity. Improved antioxidant mechanisms and membrane stability resulted in lowered lipid peroxidation product formation when compared to non-inoculated plants. Although the consortia were found to differ significantly in their effectiveness, these findings demonstrate that bioaugmentation induced significant heatwave stress tolerance and mitigation. This study revealed the promising usage of marine PGPR consortia to promote plant fitness and minimize heatwave impacts in grapevines.

Rice is one of the most important crops in the world and is considered a strategic crop for food security. Furthermore, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers to obtain high yields causes environmental problems. A sustainable alternative includes taking advantage of beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth. Here, we investigate the effect of five bacterial biofertilizers from halophytes on growth, and we investigate photosynthetic efficiency in rice plants grown under saline conditions (0 and 85 mmol L−1 NaCl) and future climate change scenarios, including increased CO2 concentrations and temperature (400/700 ppm and 25/+4 °C, respectively). Biofertilizers 1–4 increased growth by 9–64% in plants grown with and without salt in both CO2- temperature combinations, although there was no significant positive effect on the net photosynthetic rate of rice plants. In general, biofertilizer 1 was the most effective at 400 ppm CO2 and at 700 ppm CO2 +4 °C in the absence of salt. Inocula 1–5 also stimulated plant length at high CO2 levels without salt. Finally, the positive effect of biofertilization was attenuated in the plants grown under the interaction between salt and high CO2. This highlights the significance of studying biofertilization under stress interaction to establish the real potential of biofertilizers in the context of climate change conditions.

In this work, we studied the combined effect of increased temperature and atmospheric CO2, salt and drought stress, and inoculation with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth and some nutritional parameters of the edible halophyte Salicornia ramosissima. We found that the increase in temperature and atmospheric CO2, combined with salt and drought stresses, led to important changes in S. ramosissima fatty acids (FA), phenols, and oxalate contents, which are compounds of great importance for human health. Our results suggest that the S. ramosissima lipid profile will change in a future climate change scenario, and that levels of oxalate and phenolic compounds may change in response to salt and drought stress. The effect of inoculation with PGPR depended on the strains used. Some strains induced the accumulation of phenols in S. ramosissima leaves at higher temperature and CO2 while not altering FA profile but also led to an accumulation of oxalate under salt stress. In a climate change scenario, a combination of stressors (temperature, salinity, drought) and environmental conditions (atmospheric CO2, PGPR) will lead to important changes in the nutritional profiles of edible plants. These results may open new perspectives for the nutritional and economical valorization of S. ramosissima.

La salinización de los suelos, como consecuencia del cambio climático y de la actividad humana, es un problema que se debe abordar para poder sustentar y abastecer de alimento a la población mundial en continua expansión. La biofertilización con rizobacterias promotoras del crecimiento vegetal (PGPR) es una de las estrategias que se estudia para aumentar la tolerancia al estrés, el crecimiento y la producción de los cultivos. Entre los cultivos más extendidos, debido a sus propiedades nutricionales, se encuentra la acelga, una hortaliza que aporta grandes beneficios a la salud humana. Sin embargo, nunca se ha estudiado en ella la opción de la biofertilización bacteriana en condición de salinidad. Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado se centra en el estudio del efecto de la inoculación de bacterias PGPR aisladas de halófitas y de la presencia de sal en la producción de metabolitos secundarios y antioxidantes en acelga. Para ello se ha sometido a este vegetal a cuatro tratamientos distintos: dos tratamientos de biofertilización (consorcio de rizobacterias y control) y dos concentraciones de salinidad (0 y 85 mmol L-1 NaCl); y se han determinado mediante pruebas colorimétricas la concentración de compuestos fenólicos totales, flavonoides, antocianinas y la actividad antioxidante. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que tanto la presencia de sal como la inoculación con las PGPR seleccionadas afectan a la producción de dichos compuestos. Por un lado, la inoculación con las PGPR seleccionadas produjo un aumento de la concentración de polifenoles y flavonoides en acelga sometida a estrés salino, aunque no de la capacidad antioxidante de la acelga a nivel bioquímico. Por el contrario, la concentración de antocianinas disminuyó en acelga crecida en condiciones de salinidad y aumentó en acelga inoculada crecida en ausencia de sal. Esto demuestra la potencial utilidad de los biofertilizantes bacterianos como estrategia para aumentar el crecimiento y la productividad de los cultivos agrí

Inadequate fertilization or the indiscriminate use of water with high salt concentrations have led to salinization of agricultural soils. In this context, biofertilization with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an environmentally benign strategy to stimulate plant growth, even under salt stress. Thus, we studied the use of isolated PGPR consortia from halophytes to enhance Swiss chard growth under saline conditions. Growth, photosynthetic apparatus response, nutrient status, pigment concentrations, and secondary metabolites with antioxidant activity were determined in Swiss chard plants grown at 0 and 85 mmol L−1 NaCl. In general, inoculation of plants with PGPR has been shown to be an effective strategy to stimulate the growth of Swiss chard and improve its tolerance to salt stress. Inoculated plants watered with 85 mmol L−1 NaCl showed higher values of leaf dry weight than control plants. Furthermore, PGPR inoculation reduced electrolyte leakage and Na+ uptake and improved chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations, stomatal conductance, and antioxidant capacity of Swiss chard. Finally, our findings highlight the potential of isolated PGPR from halophytes to counterbalance the deleterious effect of salinity and stimulate crop growth.

Biofertilization with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can positively affect the growth and health of host plants and reinforce their tolerance of stressors. Here, we investigate the use of isolated PGPR consortia from halophytes to improve strawberry growth and flowering performance under saline and elevated CO2 and temperature conditions. Growth, flower bud production, and the photosynthetic apparatus response were determined in strawberry plants grown at 0 and 85 mmol L−1 NaCl and in two atmospheric CO2-temperature combinations (400/700 ppm and 25/+4 °C, respectively). Biofertilization improved strawberry plant growth and flower bud production, independently of salinity conditions, at ambient CO2 and 25 °C, while bacterial inoculation only had a positive effect on plant growth in the presence of salt in high CO2 and at +4 °C. Biofertilizers 1 and 3 generated the largest biomass of strawberries at 400 ppm CO2 and 0 and 85 mmol L−1 NaCl, respectively, while biofertilizer 1 did so in the presence of salt and in an atmosphere enriched with CO2 and at +4 °C. The effect of the consortia was mediated by bacterial strain PGP properties, rather than by an improvement in the photosynthetic rate of the plants. Furthermore, biofertilizers 1 and 2 increased the number of flower buds in the absence of salt, while biofertilizers 3 and 4 did so for salt-inoculated plants at 400 ppm CO2 and at 25 °C. There was no effect of inoculation on flower bud production of plants grown at high CO2 and at +4 °C. Finally, we concluded that the effect of bacterial inoculation on strawberry growth and flowering depended on the type of bacterial strain and growth conditions. This highlights the importance of developing studies considering stress interaction to assess the real potential of biofertilizers.

En este capítulo se describe un Ciclo de Mejora en el Aula (CIMA) aplicado en la asignatura Ecología II del Grado en Biología de la Universidad de Sevilla. Concretamente, se lleva a cabo en clases prácticas donde los alumnos aprenden a caracterizar ecosistemas acuáticos. Se desarrolla en 3 sesiones, donde se toman muestras en el Parque del Alamillo y se analizan posteriormente en laboratorio. En el CIMA descrito, se trabajaron los tres aspectos fundamentales del Sistema Docente (Contenidos, Metodología y Evaluación), centrando la atención en el estudiante y su aprendizaje. Tras la experiencia, entre los principios didácticos que trataré de implementar en mi docencia se encuentran el trabajo en torno a problemas, la contextualización de los contenidos en un ámbito laboral, dar mayor cabida a las ideas de los alumnos, el empleo de actividades de contraste y, por último, adoptar una evaluación para mejorar el aprendizaje (y no solo del aprendizaje), del alumno, el método y el docente., This chapter describes a Classroom Improvement Cycle (CIMA) applied in Ecology II, in the Degree of Biology at the University of Seville. Specifically, it is developed in practical classes where the students learn to characterize aquatic ecosystems. In 3 sessions, samples are taken in Parque del Alamillo and subsequently analyzed in the laboratory. In the described CIMA, the three fundamental aspects of the Teaching System (Contents, Methodology and Evaluation) were addressed, focusing the attention on the student and his learning. After the experience, among the didactic principles that I will try to implement in my teaching are the work around problems, the contextualization of the contents in a work environment, giving more space to the ideas of the students, the use of contrast activities and, finally, adopt an assessment to improve learning and not just learning, the student, the method, and the teacher.

With the purpose of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolation, several authors have sampled different wetlands in the northern half of Argentina. However, to date, we do not know the existence of microbiological studies conducted in the Patagonian salt marshes, and concretely, concerning isolation of PGPR. The present work was conducted in the heavy metal polluted San Antonio salt marsh, in two areas with different grade of pollution. In those areas, we isolated cultivable bacteria from the rhizosphere of the halophytes Spartina densiflora and Sarcocornia perennis, and look for several plant growth promoting (PGP) properties among them. In total, 60 different cultivable bacteria were isolated. 50% of the rhizobacterial strains demonstrated at least one of the PGP properties assayed, 25% of them produced siderophores, 16% were able to solubilize phosphate, 11% were able to produce auxins and 7% chitinase. We could observe that PGP properties were more abundant among bacteria growing in polluted soils. Also, bacteria inhabiting S. densiflora rhizosphere showed more PGP properties related to heavy metal phytostabilization mechanisms, in line with the phytoremediation strategy of this halophyte. Overall, these findings support the idea that coastal hazardous scenarios may be a good opportunity to seek for PGPR. Indeed, some of the strains isolated in this work presented more than one PGP property, so they may be selected for further formulation of inoculants for different applications. For further research, it would be interesting to analyse other PGP properties in these strains, as well as to isolate rhizobacteria from other halophytes in diverse Patagonian salt marshes.

Soil salinization is an environmental problem that adversely affects plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. As an alternative to the conventional approach of breeding salt-tolerant plant cultivars, we explored the use of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from halophytic plants to enhance crop growth under saline conditions. Here, we report the effect of five PGPR consortia from halophytes on the growth of eight (alfalfa, flax, maize, millet, rice, strawberry, sunflower, and wheat) of the crops most commonly produced on salinized soils worldwide. To test the efficiency of halotolerant consortia, we designed a complex environmental matrix simulating future climate-change scenarios, including increased CO2 levels and temperature. Overall, biofertilizers enhanced growth of most crops with respect to non-inoculated control plants under different CO2 concentrations (400/700 ppm), temperatures (25/+4 °C), and salinity conditions (0 and 85 mM NaCl). Biofertilizers counteracted the detrimental effect of salinity on crop growth. Specifically, strawberry and rice showed the greatest positive additive response to inoculation in the presence of salt; above-ground biomasses were 35% and 3% greater, respectively, than their respective control grown without salt. Furthermore, depending on the interaction of environmental factors (salinity × CO2 × temperature) analyzed, the results varied—influencing the most effective biofertilizer determined for each crop now, or in the future. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting studies that consider stress interaction for realistic assessments of the potential of biofertilizers in a climate-changed world.

Soil salinization is an environmental problem that adversely affects plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. As an alternative to the conventional approach of breeding salt-tolerant plant cultivars, we explored the use of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from halophytic plants to enhance crop growth under saline conditions. Here, we report the effect of five PGPR consortia from halophytes on the growth of eight (alfalfa, flax, maize, millet, rice, strawberry, sunflower, and wheat) of the crops most commonly produced on salinized soils worldwide. To test the efficiency of halotolerant consortia, we designed a complex environmental matrix simulating future climate-change scenarios, including increased CO2 levels and temperature. Overall, biofertilizers enhanced growth of most crops with respect to non-inoculated control plants under different CO2 concentrations (400/700 ppm), temperatures (25/+4 °C), and salinity conditions (0 and 85 mM NaCl). Biofertilizers counteracted the detrimental effect of salinity on crop growth. Specifically, strawberry and rice showed the greatest positive additive response to inoculation in the presence of salt; above-ground biomasses were 35% and 3% greater, respectively, than their respective control grown without salt. Furthermore, depending on the interaction of environmental factors (salinity × CO2 × temperature) analyzed, the results varied—influencing the most effective biofertilizer determined for each crop now, or in the future. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting studies that consider stress interaction for realistic assessments of the potential of biofertilizers in a climate-changed world.

A challenge exists in the need to understand plant responses in complex environmental matrixes, such as those predicted by climate change models, being this information essential for species that support important ecosystem functions. A factorial climatic chamber experiment was designed to evaluate the impact of atmospheric CO2 concentration (400 ppm and 700 ppm CO2) in combination with two maximum and minimum temperature ranges (28/13 °C and 32/17 °C) and salinity concentrations (0 and 171 mM NaCl) on the growth and photosynthetic responses of the ecosystem engineer species Spartina maritima. Plants grown at 32/17 °C showed a reduction ∼39 % on relative growth rate (RGR) and this was more drastic (i.e. 64 %) in those exposed to 700 ppm CO2, which also showed an increment in the percentage of dead tillers regardless of salinity. These reductions were explained by the negative impact on net photosynthetic rate (AN), which decreased with temperature increment, being this reduction more acute at 700 ppm CO2. This response was associated with an augmentation in CO2 diffusion limitations, as indicated the lower stomatal conductance (gs), together with a down-regulation photochemical apparatus efficiency, as indicated the lower electron transport rate (ETR) and energy fluxes derived from Kautsky curves. In addition, the greatest gs drop at 700 ppm CO2, would limit plant ability to cope with temperature excess through evapotranspiration, a fact that could have boosted temperature-triggered damage and, consequently, leaf senescence. Therefore, we can conclude that temperature and atmospheric CO2 increments would compromise the development of S. maritima and consequently the maintaining of its ecosystem functions.

Salicornia ramosissima is a C3 halophyte that grows naturally in South Western Spain salt marshes, under soil salinity and heavy metal pollution (mostly Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) caused by both natural and anthropogenic pressure. However, very few works have reported the phytoremediation potential of S. ramosissima. In this work, we studied a microbe-assisted phytoremediation strategy under greenhouse conditions. We inoculated plant growth promoting (PGP) and heavy metal resistant bacteria in pots with S. ramosissima and natural non-polluted and polluted sediments collected from Spanish estuaries. Then, we analyzed plant ecophysiological and metal phytoaccumulation response. Our data suggested that inoculation in polluted sediments improved S. ramosissima plant growth in terms of relative growth rate (RGR) (32%) and number of new branches (61%). S. ramosissima photosynthetic fitness was affected by heavy metal presence in soil, but bacteria inoculation improved the photochemical apparatus integrity and functionality, as reflected by increments in net photosynthetic rate (21%), functionality of PSII (Fm and Fv/Fm) and electron transport rate, according to OJIP derived parameters. Beneficial effect of bacteria in polluted sediments was also observed by augmentation of intrinsic water use efficiency (28%) and slightly water content (2%) in inoculated S. ramosissima. Finally, our results demonstrated that S. ramosissima was able to accumulate great concentrations of heavy metals, mostly at root level, up to 200 mg Kg–1 arsenic, 0.50 mg Kg–1 cadmium, 400 mg Kg–1 copper, 25 mg Kg–1 nickel, 300 mg Kg–1 lead, and 300 mg Kg–1 zinc. Bioaugmentation incremented S. ramosissima heavy metal phytoremediation potential due to plant biomass increment, which enabled a greater accumulation capacity. Thus, our results suggest the potential use of heavy metal resistant PGPB to ameliorate the capacity of S. ramosissima as candidate for phytoremediation of salty polluted ecosystems.