What are the important characteristics of microorganisms and its economic importance in agriculture and role of microorganisms in food ecosystem?
The biological characteristics of microorganisms can be summarized under the following categories: morphology, nutrition, physiology, reproduction and growth, metabolism, pathogenesis, antigenicity, and genetic properties. These organisms fix atmospheric nitrogen and supply it to plants. Biological fertilizers obtained from microorganisms are very good for improving soil quality and fertility. They are also environmentally friendly and do not cause any toxic or dangerous effects.Microorganisms play an important role in food industry. As already discussed in the earlier article Contributions of Microbiology in Food Industry, they are used in production of various food products, and are also responsible for food spoilage thereby causing intoxication and diseases. Microorganisms have several vital roles in ecosystems: decomposition, oxygen production, evolution, and symbiotic relationships. Decomposition is where dead animal or plant matter is broken down into more basic molecules. This process only happens because of the microorganisms that find their way into the dead matter.
The important role of microorganisms includes – Nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilisation, potassium mobilisation, antagonism towards pathogens, pests. Hence, the role of microorganisms in agriculture is indispensable. Microorganisms have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize and mobilize phosphorus, produce antibiotics and disease suppressing molecules. Owing to these properties, they are used in agriculture as biofertilizers and biopesticides. They are also important in the treatment of solid waste and sewage. These organisms fix atmospheric nitrogen and supply it to plants. Biological fertilizers obtained from microorganisms are very good for improving soil quality and fertility. They are also environmentally friendly and do not cause any toxic or dangerous effects. Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, act as decomposersas they break down the dead and decaying organisms into simpler nutrients that mix with the soil. These nutrients are absorbed by plants during photosynthesis. Microorganisms help in cleaning up the environment. They decompose dead and decaying matter from plants and animals; convert them into simpler substances which are later used up by other plants and animals. Thus, they are used to breakdown harmful substances.
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