Salinity is an ecological problem, and become a global challenge that affects crop productivity. The current research was designed to evaluate the mediated effects of biofilm-producing bacteria (Bacillus sonorensis NCCP-59) on physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant characteristics of maize cultivar (Azam 2000) under saline conditions (0, 50, 100, 150 mM). Salinity significantly reduced the germination percentage with increasing stress while a significant increase was noted in seeds primed with biofilm-producing bacteria. Sodium chloride (NaCl) stress reduced seedling length, fresh/dry weight, ion (Ca⁺⁺, K⁺) contents, and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids). While a significant increase was recorded in sodium ion (Na⁺) content, proline (Pro) and total soluble sugar (TSS), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) contents. However, the priming of maize seeds with biofilm-producing bacteria (B. sonorensis) significantly improved the physiological and biochemical, and antioxidative parameters of the plant by reducing the uptake of Na⁺. The study concluded that biofilm-producing bacteria (Bacillus sonorensis NCCP-59) can enhance (NaCl) stress tolerance in maize by reducing the uptake of Na⁺.

Index Terms- Biofilm producing Bacteria, Salinity, Maize, Priming, Metabolites