**5. Conclusions**

The outcomes of this study indicate that the application of the peat-moss-based microbial inoculum improved plant growth and yield parameters and comparatively decreased metal accumulation by the plants. Overall, gas exchange attributes and chlorophyll contents increased with *S. aureus* K1 inoculation. This research study concluded that *S. aureus* K1 reduced the toxicity of Cr in wheat plants. The Cr-resistant *S. aureus* K1 supported the plant growth, decreased and detoxified Cr in plants and allowed better production of wheat in a Cr-contaminated environment. However, in-depth exploration (i.e., at the molecular level) of the alleviative mechanisms in plants should be conducted in future studies.

**Author Contributions:** F.Z., M.R., T.Y., S.A., M.A.E.-S., M.N.A. and L.W.; Data curation, M.Z., M.W., A.A. (Alia Anayat) and T.Y.; Formal analysis, M.Z., M.W., A.A. (Alia Anayat), M.R. and T.Y.; Funding acquisition, S.A., M.N.A. and L.W.; Investigation, M.R., A.A. (Awais Ahmad), T.Y. and M.A.E.-S.; Methodology, M.A., M.W., M.R., A.A. (Awais Ahmad), T.Y. and S.A.; Project administration, F.Z., T.Y. and S.A.; Resources, F.Z., M.W., S.A., M.A.E.-S., M.N.A. and L.W.; Software, F.Z., M.Z., M.A.E.-S. and L.W.; Supervision, M.R., T.Y. and S.A.; Validation, M.Z., M.W., A.A. (Alia Anayat) and A.A. (Awais Ahmad); Visualization, M.Z., M.W., A.A. (Alia Anayat) and A.A. (Awais Ahmad); Writing—original draft, F.Z., M.Z., S.A. and L.W.; Writing—review & editing, F.Z., T.Y. and M.N.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was supported by the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan (grant number 20-3653/NRPU/R&D/HEC/14/437). The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP-2020/182), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

**Acknowledgments:** We are grateful to Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan, for its support. The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP-2020/182), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
