Techniques in Agricultural Microbiology

Contents: I. Basic Techniques In Microbiology 1 Components of Microscope 2 Microscopic Examination of Microbes 3 Microscopic Examination of Stained Cell Preparations 4 Simple Staining 5 Gram Staining 6 Spore Staining (Schaeffer - Fulton Method) 7 Micrometry- Measurement of Microbes 8 Cultivation of Microbes 9 Purification and Preservation of Bacteria 10 Purification and Preservation of Fungi 11 Cultural Characteristics of Bacteria 12 Biochemical Characteristics of Bacteria 13 Identification of Unknown Bacterial Cultures 14 Identification of Unknown Fungal Cultures 15 Determination of Bacterial Growth II. Studying Soil Microorganisms 16 Enumeration of Soil Micro Organisms by Direct Microscopic Count 17 Enumeration of Soil Micro Organisms by Buried Slide Technique 18 Determination of R:S Ratio 19 Estimation of Soil Microbial Biomass by Soil Fumigation Incubation Technique 20 Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Evolution 21 Determination of Biological Activity of Soil by Dehydrogenase Assay 22 Assessing Cellulase Activity in Soil 23 Isolation of Antibiotic- Producing Microorganisms and Determination of Antimicrobial Spectrum of Isolates 24 Assessing Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of Antibiotics (MIC) III. Studying Agriculturally Important Microbes A. Biofertilizers 25 Isolation, Characterization and Identification of Rhizobium Strains 26 Immunological Techniques for the Identification of Rhizobium Strains 27 Isolation and Enumeration Methods for Azospirillum 28 Isolation and Characterization of Azotobacter 29 Isolation and Characterization of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus 30 Isolation of Blue Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) from Rice Soils 31 Isolation of Azorhizobium caulinodans from the Nodules of Sesbania rostrata 32 Isolation of Nitrogen Fixing Anaerobes and Facultative Anaerobes 33 Estimation of N2 Fixation through Acetylene Reduction Technique 34 Assay of 15N by Mass Spectrometer 35 Assay of IAA Production in Azospirillum and Azotobacter 36 Isolation Methods for Phosphorus Solubilizing Microorganisms 37 Estimation of Phosphate Solubilizing Capacity of Phosphobacteria 38 Isolation and Enumeration of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Spores 39 Assessment of AM Fungi Colonization- Root Cleaning and Staining Technique B. Plant Growth Promoting Microbes 40 Isolation and Screening of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) 41 Isolation of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs from Phyllosphere 42 Isolation of Phyllosphere Microorganisms 43 Isolation of Spermosphere Microorganisms C. Biocontrol Agents 44 Isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis 45 Isolation of Pseudomonas fluorescens from Soil 46 Isolation Methods for Trichoderma IV. Biofertilizers: Production, Quality Control And Application 47 Mass Production Techniques for Bacterial Biofertilizers 48 Mass Production Techniques for Fungal Inoculants 49 Mass Production Techniques for Azolla 50 Mass Production Techniques for Blue Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) 51 Mass Production Technology for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi 52 Quality Control in Bioinoculants 53 Application Methods of Biofertilizers V. From Waste To Wealth 54 Composting of Organic Wastes 55 Vermicomposting Techniques 56 Estimation of the Methane Content Annexure Selected References

The study of microorganisms has provided significant insight about the basic intricacies of the life forms. There is a lack of concise presentation of techniques available in the agricultural microbiology area. This book contains a large number of diverse experimental procedures, providing instructors with the flexibility to design a course syllabus that meets their particular instructional approach. This book, consisting 56 techniques is divided into 5 major sections, covering almost all techniques in agricultural microbiology. It provides a wide spectrum of exercises suitable for use in elementary as well as in advanced agricultural microbiology courses.