Endophytic bacteria isolated from durum wheat were evaluated to assess their effectiveness against Fusarium culmorum-induced root and crown rot disease, particularly under drought stress. Sixty bacterial isolates were screened for antifungal activity and drought tolerance; among these, ten promising strains were identified. Greenhouse trials showed that several endophytes—most notably Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (isolate 52), B. licheniformis (isolates 37 and 38), and Paenibacillus ehimensis (isolate 60)—significantly promoted plant growth and reduced disease severity by up to 82 % under normal irrigation and 61 % during drought conditions. These findings highlight the potential of local wheat-associated bacteria as dual-function bioagents, offering both biocontrol and stress resilience in arid agricultural systems