Halotolerant <i>Pseudomonas</i> ‐induced alleviation of salt stress and promotion of growth in peanut ( <i>Arachis hypogaea</i> )

ABSTRACT Salinity stress is a major abiotic factor limiting crop productivity, particularly in sensitive crops like peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea ). This study evaluated the potential of Pseudomonas geniculata ND09 in alleviating salt stress impacts on peanut growth under controlled and field conditions. In pot experiments, salt stress significantly reduced root and shoot lengths, biomass, and pod yield while increasing the Na + /K + ratio and stress markers such as antioxidant enzyme activities and proline accumulation. Inoculation with P. geniculata ND09 effectively mitigated these effects, improving root and shoot lengths by 23.5% and 19.6%, respectively, and enhancing biomass and pod yield by 31.8% and 26.4% compared to untreated, salt‐stressed plants. Field trials corroborated these findings, with P. geniculata ND09‐inoculated plants irrigated with saline water showing 20.7% and 19.3% higher pod and haulm yields than untreated controls. These results demonstrate the potential of P. geniculata ND09 as a biotechnological solution for improving salinity tolerance and yield in peanut cultivation, addressing critical agricultural challenges posed by soil salinity.