Abstract:[Background] Exploring salt-tolerant rhizosphere microorganisms is of great significance for improving and utilizing saline-alkali land and for alleviating plant salt stress. [Objective] To screen plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) of Leymus chinensis planted in saline-alkali soils, analyze their growth characteristics and plant growth-promoting effects, and explore their effects on seed germination of L. chinensis, thus providing a scientific basis for the development and application of PGPR. [Methods] The strains were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of L. chinensis. The salt tolerance and pH adaptability of the strains were tested in LB media with different salt concentrations and pH values. The ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was determined by the Salkowski colorimetric method. The molybdenum-antimony colorimetric method and CAS medium were used to assess the abilities of the strains to solubilize phosphorus and produce siderophores, respectively. The strains were identified based on morphological, physiological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the dominant strains with plant growth-promoting effects were screened. Seed germination tests were conducted to verify the plant growth-promoting effects of the strains. Pot experiments on the interactions between strains and L. chinensis seedlings under salt stress were carried out to determine growth and physiological indicators of the seedlings under different treatments. [Results] Three efficient multifunctional strains with plant growth-promoting effects were screened out: Rossellomorea arthrocnemi Z7, Rossellomorea aquimaris Z25, and Cytobacillus oceanisediminis Z49. They could survive in LB media with salt concentrations of 0%–9% and pH 8.85–10. Z7, Z25, and Z49 showed the IAA production capacity of 10.10, 7.74, and 17.44 mg/L and the inorganic phosphorus-solubilizing capacity of 107.80, 128.52, and 95.95 mg/L, respectively. Among them, strain Z25 produced siderophores. Compared with the control group, Z7, Z25, and Z49 increased the seed germination rate by 5.45%, 16.36%, and 13.64% and the root length by 17.86%, 31.79%, and 27.14% respectively. Inoculation of the three strains reduced the MDA content and increased the content of antioxidant enzymes of L. chinensis seedlings in Pot experiments. [Conclusion] Strains Z7, Z25, and Z49 are multifunctional bacteria that produce IAA, solubilize phosphorus, and tolerate saline-alkali. They can serve as excellent strain resources for the development of bioinoculants and improve the utilization rate of saline-alkali soil.