Soil salinization poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity, particularly in the Mediterranean regions where olive cultivation is of major economic and ecological significance. This study investigates the potential of phenolic extracts derived from olive mill solid waste (OMSW) to enhance salt stress tolerance in Olea europaea L. cv. Koroneiki. One-year-old olive plants were subjected to six treatments: a non-stressed control (C), phenolic extract application under non-stress conditions (C + PE-OMSW), OMSW amendment under non-stress conditions (C + OMSW), salt stress induced by 100 mM NaCl (SS), salt stress combined with phenolic extract (SS + PE-OMSW), and salt stress combined with OMSW (SS + OMSW). A comprehensive physiological and biochemical evaluation was conducted, including measurements of vegetative growth, relative water content, membrane stability, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide), osmoprotectants (proline and soluble sugars), total polyphenols, flavonoids, and leaf mineral content. Application of phenolic extract under saline conditions (SS + PE-OMSW) markedly improved plant performance by enhancing water status, preserving membrane integrity, and increasing chlorophyll fluorescence efficiency. These plants also exhibited higher polyphenols and flavonoids accumulation, along with significant reductions in oxidative stress markers, suggesting enhanced antioxidant defenses. Elevated levels of proline and soluble sugars further indicated an adaptive osmotic adjustment to salinity. These results demonstrate the efficacy of OMSW-derived phenolic extracts as sustainable biostimulants capable of mitigating salt stress through integrated physiological and biochemical mechanisms. This valorization pathway offers a promising approach to recycling agro-industrial residues into high-value agricultural inputs, contributing to climate-resilient and circular bioeconomy-based crop production systems.
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