o:3170 Enhancing Seed Germination of Italian Ryegrass by Inoculation with Bacillus halotolerans: A Promising Approach for Sustainable Agriculture en Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), a cool-season forage grass widely cultivated for its high productivity and nutritional value, often faces challenges in achieving optimal seed germination mostly caused by adverse soil conditions, suboptimal temperatures, and the presence of inhibitory substances. In recent years, studies have demonstrated the potential of microbial inoculants in promoting seed germination and improving plant growth. Among these microorganisms, Bacillus species have gained considerable attention due to their versatile nature and potential benefits for agricultural systems. Bacillus halotolerans, a halophilic bacterium known for its adaptability to various environmental conditions, has shown promising results in enhancing germination and plant performance in several crop species. The beneficial characteristics of B. halotolerans, including its ability to produce plant growth-promoting substances, enhance nutrient uptake, and alleviate abiotic stresses, make it an ideal candidate for exploring its potential application in improving seed germination of Italian ryegrass. This study aimed to determine the potential of B. halotolerans strain LA1K1 with PGP traits (IAA and siderophores producer) to enhance seed germination of Italian ryegrass in vitro. Twenty seeds of Lolium multiflorum were placed on Petri dishes contacting Jensen agar (with and without bacterial inoculation) and were kept during 14 days, in triplicate. The ability of strain LA1K1 to increase seed germination was evaluated through relative seed germination index (RSGI%). The results indicated that inoculation with B. halotolerans strain LA1K1 significantly increased (up to 27%) the seed germination index of Italian ryegrass, in comparison to the uninoculated control. These results hold great significance as they offer a sustainable and efficient approach to enhance seed germination, leading to improved crop establishment, productivity, and ultimately contributing to the sustainability and success of Italian ryegrass cultivation and potentially other crop species facing similar germination challenges. 1552102 https://iocag2023.sciforum.net/#session2754 2023-11-01T08:19:26.722Z 44 no 46 Magdalena Knežević Institute of Soil Science 0000-0003-0186-3652 46 Aleksandra Jelušić Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade 0000-0002-0488-6182 46 Olivera Stajković-Srbinović Institute of Soil Science 0000-0001-9759-843X 46 Mila Pešić Institute of Soil Science 0000-0001-7589-9100 46 Nataša Rasulić Institute of Soil Science 0000-0003-2807-0775 46 Dušica Delić Institute of Soil Science 0000-0002-0626-0482 46 Aneta Buntić Institute of Soil Science 0000-0002-7068-1804 application/pdf 173771 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:3170 no yes 1 70 92000004 71A05 The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Agriculture 2023