DEVELOPMENTS IN

AGRICULTURE
MICROBIOLOGY
 Agricultural microbiology

Agricultural microbiology is a branch of microbiology

dealing with plant-associated microbes and plant and
animal diseases. It also deals with the microbiology of
soil fertility, such as microbial degradation of organic
matter and soil nutrient transformations.
Soil microbiology
• Soil microbiology is the study of microorganisms in soil,
their functions, and how they affect soil properties. It is
believed that between two and four billion years ago, the
first ancient bacteria and microorganisms came about on
Earth's oceans.
•These bacteria could fix nitrogen, in time multiplied,
and as a result released oxygen into the atmosphere.
• This led to more advanced microorganisms, which are
important because they affect soil structure and fertility.
Soil microorganisms can be classified as bacteria,
actinomycetes, fungi, algae and protozoa.
• Each of these groups has characteristics that define them
and their functions in soil.
Development in Soil Microbiology
• Sergei Winogradsky:
• He was a Russian microbiologist, ecologist
and soil scientist who pioneered the cycle-of-
life concept.
• Winogradsky discovered various
biogeochemical cycles and parts of these
cycles.
• Sergei Winogradsky have isolated different types of
bacteria from soil having different abilities.
• Some bacteria are chemoautotrophic. They grow only
on inorganic substances and CO2
• Some bacteria were doing nitrogen
fixation for plants. e.g. Azatobactor,
Rhizobium

Nitrogen Cycle
Some bacteria could covert sulfur and other
compounds. E.g. Green sulfur bacteria

SULFUR CYCLE
Martinus Beijerinck
Martinus Willem Beijerinck
(16 March 1851 - 1 January 1931) was a
Dutch microbiologist and botanist. He is
often considered one of the founders of
virology and environmental microbiology.
 Martinus Beijerinck
• Development of Enrichment culture media as he isolated cellulose
digesting bacteria.
• He isolated free living nitrogen fixing bacteria belonging to
Beijerinckia.
• He explained the symbiotic relationship of bacteria and plants
specially in Rhizobium and leguminous plants.
 Developments in Plant pathology

• Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study

of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious
organisms).

• First scientific record of relationship between

bacteria and apple & pears was made by Burill
in 1878.

• Erwin Smith explained that plant disease can be transmitted

by budding or grafting.
 Developments in Plant pathology
• In 1894, Iwanowsky explained filter passing agents responsible for
Tobacco mosaic disease.

• In 1898, Beijerinck Explained that causative agent for mosaic

disease are Virus.

• Hashimoto, A.B. Bell, A Adams, and J.C Shaw explained viral

diseases of plants transmitted by insects. (e.g. Arthropod-borne
plant viruses).

• In 1969, Owen explained the role of bacterial toxins and enzymes in

production of diseases.
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