MIB 201: Agricultural Microbiology
Credit Hours: 2 (2+0)
Full Marks: 50 (Theory: 50, Practical: 0)
Course Objectives
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of agricultural microbiology.
- Comprehend the role of microorganisms in soil fertility and crop productivity.
- Learn about microbial interactions with plants, nutrient transformations, and economic applications of microbes.
I. Syllabus Overview
- Introduction and historical background of microorganisms in agriculture.
- Classification: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic microorganisms, their structure, functions, and nutritional requirements.
- Genetics of bacteria and microbial contribution to soil fertility.
- Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur transformations by microbes.
- Plant-microbe interactions: symbiotic, associative, and non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation; Rhizosphere and Phyllosphere effects.
- Microbial degradation of organic residues (cellulose, starch, lipids, lignin, pectin, proteins).
- Plant pathogenic microorganisms and biodegradation of agricultural chemicals.
- Microbiology of milk, dairy products, food contamination, and food-borne infections.
- Sewage microbiology, silage production, microbial bioassays, biological warfare.
- Economic uses of microorganisms: food, fermentation, antibiotics, biopesticides, biofertilizers.
II. Course Outline (Lectures – 30)
| S.N. | Topic | Subtopics | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to microorganisms | Distribution | 1 |
| 2 | Historical background | Importance in agriculture | 1 |
| 3 | Microbial classification | Prokaryotic & eukaryotic microorganisms | 1 |
| 4 | Cell structure | Prokaryotic & eukaryotic | 1 |
| 5 | Functions of microorganisms | Cellular roles | 1 |
| 6 | Nutritional requirements | Bacteria | 1 |
| 7 | Genetics of bacteria | 1 | |
| 8 | Microbial role in soil fertility | Crop production | 1 |
| 9 | Carbon & nitrogen transformation | 1 | |
| 10 | Sulfur transformation | 1 | |
| 11 | Symbiotic plant-microbe association | 1 | |
| 12 | Associative nitrogen fixation | 1 | |
| 13 | Non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation | 1 | |
| 14 | Microbes effect | Plant-microbe association | 1 |
| 15 | Rhizosphere & Phyllosphere effect | 1 | |
| 16 | Microbial degradation | Cellulose & starch | 1 |
| 17 | Microbial degradation | Lipids & proteins | 1 |
| 18 | Microbial degradation | Lignin & pectin | 1 |
| 19 | Plant pathogenic microorganisms | 1 | |
| 20 | Biodegradation of agricultural chemicals | 1 | |
| 21 | Microbiology of milk | 1 | |
| 22 | Microbiology of milk products | 1 | |
| 23 | Microbial food contamination | Foodborne infection & toxins | 1 |
| 24 | Foodborne infection & toxins | 1 | |
| 25 | Sewage microbiology | 1 | |
| 26 | Microbial bioassay & biological warfare | 1 | |
| 27 | Silage production | 1 | |
| 28 | Economic use of microbes | Food fermentation | 1 |
| 29 | Economic use of microbes | Medicine, antibiotics, curing of tobacco & tea | 1 |
| 30 | Economic use of microbes | Biopesticides & biofertilizers | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
References
- Collins, C.H., Lyne, P.M., & Crang, J.M. (1989). Microbiological Methods. Academic Press, New York.
- Kamal, Pande, Rao. (2001). Introductory Microbiology and Plant Pathology, 2nd ed., Students-Friends Publishers, Allahabad.
- Merchants, I.A., & Palker, R.A. Veterinary Bacteriology and Virology. C.B. Publishers, Delhi.
- Pelczar, M.J., Chan, E.C.S., & Kreig, N.R. (1993). Microbiology, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing, New Delhi.
- Purohit, S.S. (1990). Microbiology, 3rd ed., Agro-Botanical Publishers, Bikanagar.
- Rangaswami, G., & Bagyaraj, D.J. (1992). Agricultural Microbiology, Asia Publishing House, New Delhi.
