Plant growth and yield is adversely affected by soil salinity. Salt tolerant 
plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strain IG 3 was isolated from 
rhizosphere of wheat plants. The isolate IG 3 was able to grow in presence of 
NaCl ranging from 0 to 20% in Luria Bertani medium. The present study was 
planned to evaluate the role of inoculation of PGPR strain IG 3 and its efficacy 
in augmenting salt tolerance in oat (Avena sativa) under NaCl stress (100mM). 
The physiological parameter such as shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight, 
root dry weight and relative water content (RWC) were remarkably higher in IG 3 
inoculated plants in comparison to un-inoculated plants under NaCl stress. 
Similarly, the biochemical parameters such as proline content, electrolyte 
leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and activities of antioxidant enzymes 
were analyzed and found to be notably lesser in IG 3 inoculated oat plants in 
contrast to un-inoculated plants under salt stress. Inoculation of IG 3 strain 
to oat seedlings under salt stress positively modulated the expression profile 
of rbcL and WRKY1 genes. Root colonization of root surface and interior was 
demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy and tetrazolium staining, 
respectively. Due these outcomes, it could be implicated that inoculation of 
PGPR strain IG 3 enhanced plant growth under salt stress condition. This study 
demonstrates that PGPR play an imperative function in stimulating salt tolerance 
in plants and can be used as biofertilizer to enhance growth of crops in saline 
areas.