Kocuria LAT6 Enhances Wheat Salt Tolerance via Modulation of Rhizosphere Microbial Function and Nitrogen Cycling

Pioneer plants in saline–alkali soils support unique rhizosphere microbial communities. Some of these microbes promote plant salt tolerance and growth, although the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. In this study, we isolated the Kocuria strain LAT6 from the rhizosphere of pioneer plants in saline–alkali soils. Genome sequencing revealed genes associated with plant growth promotion and stress adaptation. Inoculation with LAT6 markedly reshaped the rhizosphere microbiota, and metagenomic analysis indicated that specific microbial taxa contributed to enhanced nitrogen-cycling functions. Transcriptome profiling further demonstrated that LAT6 promotes nitrate transport and stimulates phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in wheat. It reveals how microbial reorganization and plant–microbiome interactions enhance nitrogen use under salt stress, highlighting the potential of salt-tolerant consortia for saline–alkaline crops.