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A pot experiment was designed to study the effect of Azotobacterand Azospirilluminoculation on the growth parameters (root shoot fresh weight, dry weight and length), level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, photosynthetic pigments, water status, level of osmolytes and metaxylem vessel elements (MVE) of maize roots under control conditions as well as under salt stress conditions (100 mM and 150 mM NaCl). The results revealed that stress conditions increased the level of antioxidants, antioxidant enzyme activities and some osmolytes like total soluble sugars and proline. On the contrary, growth parameters, total soluble proteins, photosynthetic pigments and MVE number and area were reduced under salt stress. Inoculation with Azotobacterand Azospirillumimproved the growth parameters, increased the level of osmolytes, antioxidants, activities of antioxidant enzymes, photosynthetic pigments and MVE area and number, not only under control conditions but also under stress conditions. It was observed that bacteria inoculation counter acted on the harmful effects of salt stress. Therefore to conclude, inoculation of seeds with microbes before sowing in salt affected soils can mitigate the negative effects of salt stress.