MICROBIAL BIOPREPARATIONS FOR ENHANCING DROUGHT AND SALINITY TOLERANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE ARAL SEA REGION

Abstract

The Aral Sea region is characterized by severe soil salinity and limited water availability, which constrain plant establishment and productivity. This review evaluates microbial biopreparations for improving drought and salinity tolerance in medicinal plants, with particular attention to their relevance to the Aral Sea region. Recent evidence on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, endophytes, Trichoderma, and microbial communities indicates that beneficial microorganisms can improve water relations, antioxidant defense, nutrient acquisition, secondary metabolism, and stress responses. Regional microorganisms associated with saline and stress-adapted environments may provide candidates for locally adapted biopreparations. However, their effectiveness in medicinal plants under Aral Sea conditions remains insufficiently validated, highlighting the need for microorganism selection, formulation development, and field-scale testing.