Endophytes from Halotolerant Plants Aimed to Overcome Salinity and Draught.

The aim of our research was to study the endosphere of four halophytic plants: L., (R.Br.), (Pall.) and (L.) Schrad. from arid and saline areas of the Stavropol Territory, Russia. In total, 28 endophyte strains were isolated from the roots and stems of these halophytic plants. Most of the isolates (23 out of 28) were identified as sp. while others belonged to the genera and . Three strains of sp. (Se5R, Se1-1R, and Se1-3S), isolated from the were capable of growth at 55 °C and in 10% of NaCl. Strains Se1-4S, Kp20-2S, and Bs11-2S sp. (isolated from the , and respectively) demonstrated strong plant growth promoting activity: 85-265% over control lettuce plants and a high degree of growth suppression (59.1-81.2%) of pathogenic fungi , and . Selected strains can be promising candidates for the development of bioinoculants to facilitate salt soil phytoremediation and be beneficial for mitigating the salt stress to the plants growing in salt-affected habitats.