Researchers have reported that Bacillus megaterium BM18-2 reduces Cd toxicity in Hybrid Pennisetum, but understanding the interaction between plants and associated endophytes is crucial for understanding phytoremediation strategies under heavy metal stress. The current study aims to monitor the colonization patterns of GFP-labeled endophytic bacteria BM18-2 on Hybrid Pennisetum grass. Additionally, it will monitor Cd’s effect on plant bacterial colonization. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of plant roots infected with gfp tagged BM18-2 revealed that the bacterium colonised root hairs and epidermal cells at the early stage of colonization, and over time, the bacteria penetrated to the internal tissues following their colonization of the stem and leaf. The roots, stems, and leaves of H. Pennisetum grown in Cd-contaminated soil contained a higher number of bacteria than those grown in normal soil. The result of Cd translocation indicated the condensation of heavy metals in the root cells and stem, while no Cd was found in the leaf. The study will also look for the enzymatic activity of bacteria BM18-2 and use Leadmium Green AM dye to track how Cd is taken up and moved through the plant. The enzymatic activity results showed that BM18-2 can produce catalase and amylase, but did not record any cellulase or lipase activity. As a result, the pattern of useful endophytic BM18-2 colonization through H. Pennisetum grass will aid in the application and maintenance of these bacteria in farming, and it presents new opportunities for the development of innovative strategies in the fields of agriculture and biotechnology.

Water scarcity poses significant challenges to sustainable agriculture, and the anticipated increase in the frequency and severity of droughts due to climate change intensifies these constraints. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify eco-friendly approaches to enhance drought tolerance, especially in arid regions, to ensure global food security, considering the growing world population. This study investigated the morphological diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) species associated with the rhizosphere of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants across diverse agroecosystems in twenty locations in Egypt. The results reveal the presence of five AMF species from the genus Glomus: G. invarmaium, G. xanthium, G. intraradices, G. mosseae, and G. macrocarpum. The study further explored the impact of mixed inoculation with the identified G. species on the physiological and morphological performance of tomato plants exposed to drought stress. The results showed that AMF inoculation significantly improved root colonization under drought stress. Inoculated plants showed significantly higher shoot and root fresh and dry weights than non-inoculated controls. AMF-inoculated plants also exhibited higher leaf chlorophyll concentrations and increased accumulation of stress-related metabolites such as proline, total soluble sugars, and glycine betaine compared to non-inoculated plants under drought stress. Leaf phosphorus concentration was enhanced in inoculated plants, whereas lipid peroxidation, indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, was reduced. Thermal imaging revealed that AMF inoculation led to lower canopy temperatures, indicating better stress tolerance. Therefore, AMF inoculation, particularly Glomus species, mitigated the adverse effects of drought stress on tomato plants, which indicates its potential for improving crop performance under water-limited conditions. These findings documented the importance of AMF in enhancing drought tolerance in tomato plants, suggesting that their application could be a viable strategy for sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions.