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Abstract

Soil salinity and sodicity are major factors that affect sunflower productivity, impacting growth, ionic balance and physiological processes in the plants. This research was conducted to investigate the possibility of improving salt tolerance in sunflower plants using sulfur application, with or without the application of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, and its impact on growth and quality parameters of sunflower plants under normal, saline and saline-sodic conditions. A controlled greenhouse experiment indicated that sulphur at 100 mg kg-1 inoculated with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans was most effective when compared to other treatments, promoting shoot weight, root weight, total dry weight, potassium (mg g-1), calcium (mg g-1), stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate, ionic balance indicated by increased potassium and calcium content, and nitrogen uptake, protein content, and oil percentage. While salinity and sodicity stress resulted in a marked reduction in all growth parameters of sunflower plants without the application of sulfur and A. thiooxidans, accompanied by increased sodium uptake. The improvement in nutrient availability, physiological performance and yield quality appears to alleviate salt-induced stress due to synergistic interaction between sulphur and A. thiooxidans. This approach represents a promising strategy for bolstering crop resilience in challenging conditions. Key words: Achene yield, Helianthus annus L, ion content, plant growth, salt affected soil

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