Herbaspirillum bacteria colonize diverse herbaceous seed-beating plants, particularly important cereals.H.seropedicae and H.rubrisubalbicans are able to fix N2, produce IAA, use ACC deaminase to reduce plant ethylene levels, and thus promote plant growth.H.rubrisubalbicansis also the causal pathogen of sugarcane mottled stripe diseaseand sorghum red stripe disease.