In agriculture and forestry, the inoculation of plants with plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is proposed. These bacteria promote plant growth using mechanisms such as N₂ fixation, phosphate solubilization, phytohormones, siderophores, and biocontrol of phytopathogens (Bashan and Holguin 1997; Glick 1995). The question arises whether one can use PGPBs to speed up mangrove plantlet development for reforestation of the damaged zones or even to create man-made mangrove wetlands out of wastelands. Specific PGPBs of mangrove ecosystems are unknown. However, an attempt was made to inoculate mangrove with strains of the nitrogen-fixing mangrove cyanobacteria Microcoleus chthonoplastes and Azospirillum sp.(a common terrestrial PGPB)(Bashan et al. 1998; Puente et al., 1999; Toledo et al. 1995).

Inoculation of the oilseed halophyte Salicornia bigelovii-- an annual growing in American west coast estuaries and a potential oilseed for saline water agriculture-- with several mangrove rhizosphere bacteria, significantly enhanced plant growth and the nitrogen, protein, and fatty acid content of seeds (Bashan et al, 2000). These results are encouraging, and suggest the use of PGPBs to promote the growth of mangrove plants.

Inoculation of the cyanobacteria Microcoleus on black mangrove roots. This cyanobacteria increased the nitrogen level of the plant.