The present study investigated the effect of actinobacterial inoculation on the growth performance and secondary metabolite accumulation of Salvia hispanica cultivated under saline soil conditions. Two highly active isolates, Actinocorallia aurantiaca (NR_114514) and Streptomyces mutabilis (PP496558), designated as strains 9 and 34, respectively, were individually applied to sterile and non-sterile soils adjusted to a salinity level of 4 dS/m. Plants were grown under controlled conditions until the vegetative stage, after which growth parameters and major phytochemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, were quantified using standard biochemical assays. Actinobacterial inoculation significantly enhanced plant growth and secondary metabolite production compared to non-inoculated controls. S. mutabilis (PP496558) showed the highest stimulation of phenolic and flavonoid contents under saline conditions. In addition, sterile saline soils supported greater accumulation of bioactive compounds than non-sterile soils. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of actinobacteria as bio-enhancers for improving the productivity and phytochemical quality of S. hispanica under salinity stress, highlighting their potential application in sustainable medicinal plant cultivation in arid and saline environments.
Keywords: Actinobacteria; Desert agriculture; Medicinal plants; Phytochemical enhancement; Plant–microbe interactions; Rhizosphere inoculation; Saline soil; Salvia hispanica; Secondary metabolites; Soil salinity; Sustainable cultivation.
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