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List any five useful actions of microorganisms. |
1.Lactobacillus/Döderlein's bacillus,Lactobacilli are known for their ability to utilize lactose and produce lactic acid, as a metabolic byproduct. 2.Bifidobacterium: Bifidobacteria are present in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. Benefit: Similar to lactobacilli these are also known for lactic acid products 3.Escherichia coli (E. coli) Presence: E. coli is a part of the normal microflora of small and large intestines. Benefit: E. coli helps in the breakdown of undigested monosaccharide sugars and thus aid digestion. These bacteria produce vitamin K and biotin which are essential for a variety of cellular processes. 4.Streptomyces: Presence: They are widely found in soil, water, and decaying matter. Benefit: Streptomyces spp. play an important role in soil ecology by bringing about the decomposition of organic matter present in soil. 5 .Rhizobia: Presence: Rhizobia are present in soil or form a symbiotic association with the root nodules of leguminous plants. Benefit: Rhizobium etli, Bradyrhizobium spp., Azorhizobium spp.., and many other species, are useful for fixing atmospheric nitrogen, including ammonia, thus making it available for plants. 6..Cyanobacteria/Cyanophyta Characteristics: Gram-negative, rod-shaped Presence: Cyanobacteria are mainly aquatic bacteria but are also found on bare rocks and in soil. Benefit: Also known as blue-green algae and blue-green bacteria, they are a group of environmentally significant bacteria. They bring about nitrogen fixation in aquatic habitats. |