Dr. Yoav Bashan, Dr. Luz de Bashan and
Dr. Blanca Estela Romero Lopez

Rock weathering by plants and microorganisms (Basic studies)

Version January 2016

Goal: Explore microorganisms residing in rocks as a potential resource for desert plant inoculation on eroded desert lands; and study accelerated soil formation on desert land with combinations of plants and microorganisms.

For More PDF files of earlier papers go to: Environmental Microbiology Website.

Mamilaria en roca
Small Mamilaria cacti growing in
sedimentary rocks without soil.
Cardon growing out of rocks
above Gulf of California.

Cardon cacti growing on a
lava flow in the absence of soil.
Small cardon plant growing inside lava rock
without soil. Note that after opening of the rock,
the roots are attached to the stone surface.

External Collaborators

Relevant publications

  • Lopez, B.R., Tinoco-Ojanguren, C., Bacilio, M., Mendoza, A., and Bashan, Y., 2012. Endophytic bacteria of the rock-dwelling cactus Mammillaria fraileana affect plant growth and mobilization of elements from rocks. Environmental and Experimental Botany 81: 26-36

  • Lopez, B.R., Bashan, Y., and Bacilio, M., 2011. Endophytic bacteria of Mammillaria fraileana, an endemic rock-colonizing cactus of the Southern Sonoran Desert. Archives of Microbiology 193: 527-541
    The definitive version is available electronically on SpringerLink: http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s00203-011-0695-8

  • Lopez, R.B., Bashan, Y., Bacilio M. and De la Cruz-Aguero, G. 2009 Rock-colonizing plants: abundance of the endemic cactus Mammillaria fraileana related to rock type in the southern Sonoran Desert. Plant Ecology 201: 575-588 The definitive version is available at: http://www.elsevier.com/plant ecology

  • Puente, M.E., Li, C.Y. and Bashan, Y. 2009 Rock-degrading endophytic bacteria in cacti. Environmental and Experimental Botany 66: 389-401

  • Puente, M.E., Li, C.Y. and Bashan, Y. 2009 Endophytic bacteria in cacti seeds can improve the development of cactus seedlings. Environmental and Experimental Botany 66: 402-408

  • Bashan, Y., Puente, E., Romero, B., Li, C.Y., and de-Bashan, L.E. 2007. Mountain breakers. Tzabar 13: 2-11 (Hebrew) (Cactis and Succulent Society of Israel)

  • Bashan, Y., Vierheilig, H., Salazar, B.G., and de-Bashan, L.E. 2006. Primary colonization and breakdown of igneous rocks by endemic, succulent elephant trees (Pachycormus discolor) of the deserts in Baja California, Mexico. Naturwissenschaften 93: 344–347

  • Puente, M.E., Rodriguez-Jaramillo, M.C., Li, C.Y. and Bashan, Y. 2006. Image analysis for quantification of bacterial rock weathering. Journal of Microbiological Methods 64: 275-286

  • Puente, M.E., Bashan, Y., Li, C.Y., and Lebsky, V.K. 2004. Microbial populations and activities in the rhizoplane of rock-weathering desert plants, I. Root colonization and weathering of igneous rocks. Plant Biology 6: 629-642

  • Puente, M.E., Li, C.Y., and Bashan, Y. 2004. Microbial populations and activities in the rhizoplane of rock-weathering desert plants, II. Growth promotion of cactus seedling. Plant Biology 6: 643-650

  • Bashan, Y., Li, C.Y., Lebsky, V.K., Moreno, M. and de-Bashan, L.E. 2002. Primary colonization of volcanic rocks by plants in arid Baja California, Mexico. Plant Biology 4: 392-402.

    • Related pages:

  • Image analysis for quantification of bacterial rock weathering


Personal page of Yoav Bashan

Comments re this page: Juan Pablo Hernandez

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