Discovery of 'Pantoea Tagorei'-A Game-Changer in Agriculture

Overview:

A significant breakthrough in agricultural microbiology has been made by a team from Visva-Bharati University's botany department. They discovered a new bacteria, 'Pantoea Tagorei', named in honor of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. This discovery is poised to revolutionize traditional agricultural practices.

Key Points:

Leader of Research: The research was led by microbiologist Bomba Dam, an assistant professor in the university's botany department.

Team Composition: Dam's team included Raju Biswas, Abhijit Mishra, Abhinav Chakraborty, Pooja Mukhopadhyay, and Sandeep Ghosh.

Bacteria Characteristics: 'Pantoea Tagorei' is adept at extracting potassium from soil, which is crucial for plant growth. It also solubilises potassium and phosphorus and fixes nitrogen, especially in soils from Jharia coal mines.

Agricultural Impact: This bacteria can significantly boost the cultivation of crops like paddy, pea, and chilli. It promises to reduce the reliance on commercial fertilizers, thereby cutting costs and increasing crop yields.

Recognition and Publication: The discovery has been officially recognized by the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) and published in the Indian Journal of Microbiology. Significance of Naming:

The bacteria is named after Rabindranath Tagore to honor his and his son Rathindranath Tagore’s contributions to agricultural science. This naming also commemorates Tagore's vision in sending his son to study agricultural science in the USA.

Conclusion:

'Pantoea Tagorei' represents a groundbreaking development in the field of agricultural microbiology. It holds the potential to transform farming practices by enhancing plant growth and reducing the need for commercial fertilizers, thereby benefiting the agricultural sector significantly.

SRIRAM’s