Exploring the Impact of Water Stress and PGPR Inoculation on Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Parameters in Tomato Plants

This study explores the effects of varying water stress conditions on tomato plants, ranging from severe to mild stress levels, alongside the influence of soil inoculation with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). The experiment utilized bacterial isolates including Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (SF14), Alcaligenes faecalis (ACBC1), and Bacillus aryabhattai (B11) to inves-tigate morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters in the Campbell 33 tomato variety. The study aims to understand plant responses to water stress and evaluate the specific impact of PGPR bacterial strains on various aspects of plant performance. Parameters assessed encompassed root growth and weight, stem diameter, growth rate, leaf and flower count, water content, as well as above-ground and root fresh/dry weights, chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and fla-vonoid levels. Severe water stress led to decreases in morphological and physiological metrics, while bacterial inoculation showed a positive influence. Unexpectedly, bacterial inoculation re-duced anthocyanin levels under severe stress, indicating intricate interactions between bacterial inoculation and plant responses. These findings provide valuable insights into sustainable agri-cultural practices by uncovering complex interactions among environmental factors, soil micro-biomes, and plant physiology.