Dr. Luz Gonzalez de Bashan and Dr. Yoav Bashan

Genetic manipulation and molecular detection and monitoring of plant growth-promoting bacteria (Basic studies)

Version January 2010


Goals: Genetically manipulate Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB); production of Azospirillum strains with reporter genes (Green Fluorescent Protein). Detection of PGPB by molecular technique such as Fluorescense in situ Hybridization (FISH) and monitoring microbial populations using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE).


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


Colonization of wheat roots with Azospirillum lipoferum labeled with the green fluorescent protein (gfp) reporter gene.


 The plant growth promoting bacterium Azospirillum lipoferum labeled with
the green fluorescent protein (gfp)
reporter gene.

Root colonization by Azospirillum brasilense
visualizing by Fluorescence In situ Hybridization (FISH).
Brilliant dots are the bacterial cells.

Root colonization of Sorghum plants by the plant growth-promoting bacteria Azospirillum brasilense visualizing by Scanning Confocal Laser Microscopy. Purple colors are the bacterial cells.

External collaborators

  • Dr. Alberto Mendoza, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica (CBG), Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México

  • Prof. Raina Maier, Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Arizona, USA

    Most relevant publications

  • Rodriguez, H., Fraga, T. and Bashan, Y. 2006. Genetics of phosphate solubilization and potential applications for improving plant growth-promoting bacteria. Plant and Soil 287: 15 - 21.

  • Rodriguez, H., Mendoza, A., Cruz, M.A., Holguin, G., Glick B.R., and Bashan, Y. 2006. Pleiotropic physiological effects in the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense following chromosomal labeling in the clpX gene. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 57: 217-225.

  • Bacilio, M., Rodriguez H., Moreno, M., Hernandez, J.-P., and Bashan Y. 2004. Mitigation of salt stress in wheat seedlings by a gfp-tagged Azospirillum lipoferum. Biology and Fertility of Soils 40: 188-193.