Aspergillus flavus and Colpomina sinousa mixture act as biocatalyst to improve growth, fruit yield and salinity resistance of Brassica napus for sustainable agriculture

Plant survival under salinity conditions can be nourished by applying biocatalyst (algal-fungal consortia) as biotechnological tool to improve plant salinity resistance and use of saline land and water to address food security. Colpomina Sinousa and endophytic fungi Aspergillus flavus were used as a long-term solution to enhance the growth and physiological output of Brassica napus plants grown at 125 mM NaCl. A. flavus was used at the rate of (60 ml per seedling) with 4 % C. Sinousa aqueous extract (CAE) application on 35, 70 and 100 days after sowing. Salinity reduced chlorophyll a and b , RWC, LWL, IAA, GA 3 , water potential, osmotic potential, potassium, calcium, magnesium, K + /Na + , Ca 2+ /Na + and Mg 2+ /Na + ratios, while increased salicylic acid, H 2 O 2 , lipid peroxidation, proline, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, lipids, protein, lycopene, beta carotene, tannins, and ascorbate peroxidase, ABA, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and sodium compared to non-saline media. Interestingly, application of A. flavus and C. Sinousa in combination enhanced growth, improved biochemical attributes and essential nutrients uptake with decline in sodium accumulation that increased yield under normal and saline stress. It can be concluded that the application of A. flavus and C. Sinousa as new formulation of bio-stimulants causes pronounced improvement in vegetative and reproductive yield and improved salt tolerance of B. napus. Using theses biostimulant is a sustainable approach as plant biofertilizers and bio enhancer to increase crop productivity specially in saline environment.