Applied Microbiology Topic: Agricultural Microbiology. For video visit YouTube channel Microbial Concepts

1. Agricultural
Microbiology

2. Microbiology

3. Agriculture Microbiology
• Branch of microbiology dealing with plant-associated microbes and plant
and animal diseases.

4. Mycorrhiza
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Fungi as biocontrol agents
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Applied Microbiology
Biopesticides
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Tissue Culture
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Cellulose degrading bacteria
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5. In AGRICULTURE Microbiology we deal with many aspects like:
• Soil
(Soil components, microflora, Rhizosphere and nutrient cycles)
• Water
• Plant anatomy (phytotomy)
(Structure of plant, Role of bacteria in plant growth, Growth hormones, Defence mechanisms in plant, and
Plant requirements for growth.)
• Root-soil borne pathogenic diseases.
• Bacterial/ fungal/ Viral diseases.
• Beneficial Microflora/ Different microorganisms.
• Study of agricultural waste degrading microbes and their applications.
• Biofertilizer/ Biopesticides/ Bioherbicides etc.
• Mycorrhiza

6. Microbial groups in soil:
The soil represents a favourable habitat for microorganisms and is inhabited by a wide range of microorganisms,
including bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, cyanobacteria, algae, viruses and protozoa.
Microorganisms are found in large numbers in soil - usually between one and ten million microorganisms are
present per gram of soil - with bacteria and fungi being the most prevalent.
MicrobesNotes.com

7. Major application of soil beneficial microorganisms:
(i) Microbes break down the complex organic matter: an important role in the decomposition of organic matter
present in the soil.
(ii) Microbes help in recycling of nutrients: play vital roles in transforming the nutrients to different forms. For
example, sulphate reducing bacteria -decomposing and oxidizing various organic matters.
(iii) Microbes help in maintaining the soil moisture: The complex organic matters of dead plant and animal are
firstly broken down into smaller fragments called humus. In fact, humus contains many nutrients (most
prominently carbon and nitrogen) that improve the soil health, structure and texture. Also, humus helps to
retain moisture in the soil and improves soil’s cation exchange capacity. Humus, being negatively charged
molecules bind to positively charged cations of plant nutrients.
(iv) Microbes create soil structure: Some specific soil microorganisms secrete biomolecules like
polysaccharides, gums and glycoproteins, which stick soil minerals together and thus, form a good soil
structure. Fungal hyphae and plant roots are also known for binding soil aggregates together.
(v) Microbes fix nitrogen: Agriculture depends heavily on the ability of certain bacteria to convert atmospheric
nitrogen (N2 gas) to ammonia (NH3). Some of these bacteria live freely in the soil, while others grow in
association with plant roots. The example is Rhizobium bacteria, grows in the roots of legumes to make the
nitrogen available for the growth of plants.
(vi) Microbes promote plant growth: Some soil microbes produce a variety of substances that promote plant
growth, including auxins, gibberellins and antibiotics.

8. Microorganisms in Nutrient cycling:
Important soil nutrients- Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Sulfur, Potassium.
Others are: Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc etc.
Soil microorganisms have a profound effect on the transformations involved in a large number of
biogeochemical cycles of nutrients including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) and
other various micronutrients and macronutrients.
Researchgate.c

9. • Microorganisms as bio-control agent:
• Antagonistic microorganisms are used to control insect pests or pathogen.
• Various microorganisms are used for biological control such as bacteria, fungi, Virus and protozoa.
• Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseudomonas, Trichoderma and Beauveria bassiana.
www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01619/fu

10. • Microorganisms as biofertilizers:
• In soil variety of different microbes are present.
• Some are pathogenic which some are useful in plant growth and regulation.
• Many bacteria and fungi play an important role in nutrient cycling.
• Carbon, Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorous are important nutrients which are required for plant growth.
• Isolating these microbes and selecting them for their best and using for large scale manufacturing is best
way of utilizing soil microflora in agriculture industry.
• Different consortia can be made as per crop requirement and applied in fields for better results.
• Advantage is they are eco-friendly and cost-effective.
• Bacterial biofertilizers: Phosphobacterium, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas.
• Cyanobacterial Biofertilizers: Azolla, Azospirillum.
• Fungal biofertilizers: VAM fungi like Glomus, Gigaspora etc.
• Rhizobium biofertilizers: R. trifoli, R.leguminosarum, R. phaseoli, R. lupini.

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12. • Microorganisms as Bio-pesticides:
Some soil microorganisms produce compounds that stimulate the natural defence mechanisms of the plant and
improve its resistance to pathogens.
The term biopesticides are defined as the compounds derived from some living organisms and used to manage
insect-pests by means of specific biological lethal effects.
As compared to broader synthetic chemical pesticides, biopesticides are natural and have biological origin.
It generally refers to products containing biocontrol agents or substances (including their genes or metabolites)
derived from natural materials (such as bacteria or other microbes, animals and plants) used for controlling
pests.
Sciencedirect.com

13. Genetically modified plant
The process of scientifically changing the genes of plants and animals in order to create forms of
them that are less likely to get diseases, will grow faster, etc.
The three most common traits found in GMO crops are: 1. Resistance to insect damage 2.
Tolerance to herbicides 3. Resistance to plant viruses.
For GMO crops that are resistant to insect damage, farmers can apply fewer spray pesticides to
protect the crops. GMO crops that are tolerant to herbicides help farmers control weeds without
damaging the crops.
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