Water scarcity is abiotic stress that is becoming more prevalent as a result of human activities, posing a threat to agriculture and food security. Recently, endophytic bacteria have been proven to reduce drought stress and increase crop productivity. Here, we explored the efficacy of seed endophytic bacteria in maize crops under water deficit conditions. For this purpose, twenty-seven endophytic bacteria have been isolated from three distinct maize cultivars seeds (Malka 2016, Sahiwal Gold and Gohar-19) and evaluated for desiccation tolerance of −0.18, −0.491, and −1.025 MPa induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. The nine isolates were chosen on the basis of desiccation tolerance and evaluated for maize growth promotion and antioxidant activity under normal and drought conditions. Results showed that drought stress significantly decreased the growth of maize seedlings. However, isolates SM1, SM4, SM19, and SM23 significantly improved the root and shoot length, plant biomass, leaf area, proline content, sugar, and protein content under normal and drought conditions. Antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased at p-value < 0.05 with inoculation of seed endophytic bacteria under drought conditions. However, further experiments of seed endophytic bacteria (SM1, SM4, SM19, and SM23) should be conducted to validate results.

Wheat is one of the leading staple crops in many countries. Phosphorus (P) plays an important role for wheat growth and yield as it takes part in many metabolic pathways. Even for soluble phosphatic fertilizers, most of the Pakistani soils, being alkaline and calcareous in nature, show phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) not more than 10–25%. The major issue is the unavailability of P due to fixation and precipitation reactions with soil particles. Composting of rock-phosphate with animal and poultry manures supplied with bio-stimulated phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) not only enhances the RP solubilization but also serves as a potent source of P for plants. Composted/bio-activated rock-phosphate (B-RP), prepared by group of three bacterial strains i.e., Pseudomonas sp. (E11), Bacillus sp. (MN54) and Enterobacter sp. (MN17) aided with molasses (5%) and urea (10%), was tested alone and in various combinations with di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). In this pot trial, the combined application of B-RP and DAP was found superior to the sole application of B-RP. Even the combination of B-RP and DAP sharing equal amount of recommended P showed better results as compared to the sole application of DAP, giving improved shoot biomass (25%), total P-uptake (67%), recovery efficiency of P (75%), dry matter (29%), crude protein (29%), and other yield, physiological and nutritional quality parameters of wheat. So, it could be concluded that integrated use of B-RP and DAP with equal proportion of recommended P could serve as a better management practice for not only improving quantity but also the quality of the wheat grain.