This site describes the scientific programs and publications (many available as PDF files) of the Environmental Microbiology research group, headed by Dr. Yoav Bashan at the Center for Biological Research of the Northwest in Mexico. We study the following subjects: Conservation, re-forestation; re-vegetation; rock weathering and restoration of eroded desert soil; microbiology and conservation of mangrove ecosystems; water bioremediation and wastewater biological treatment with microalgae; effects of inoculants and mixed inoculants of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR/PGPB), especially Azospirillum on plants (such as wheat, tomato, and halophytes), and with or without composts amendment in organic agriculture; the effect of PGPB/PGPR in reducing salt and drought stress of plants, their genetic manipulation, and molecular mechanisms in cell-cell recognition between bacteria and plant.