What bacteria are found in soil? Examples of Bacteria found in Soils Common bacterial genera isolated from soil include Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas is a genus of Gram-negative, Gammaproteobacteria, belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae and containing 191 validly described species. The members of the genus demonstrate a great deal of metabolic diversity and consequently are able to colonize a wide ran…
Agrobacterium
Agrobacterium is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria established by H. J. Conn that uses horizontal gene transfer to cause tumors in plants. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the most commonly studied species in this genus. Agrobacterium is well known for its ability to transfer DNA betwee…
Clostridium
Clostridium is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. This genus includes several significant human pathogens, including the causative agent of botulism. The genus formerly included an important cause of diarrhea, Clostridioides difficile, which was separated after 16S rRNA an…
Micrococcus
Micrococcus is a genus of bacteria in the Micrococcaceae family. Micrococcus occurs in a wide range of environments, including water, dust, and soil. Micrococci have Gram-positive spherical cells ranging from about 0.5 to 3 micrometers in diameter and typically appear in tetrads. They ar…
What is the most common bacteria in soil?
Types of Soil Bacteria
- Nitrification Bacteria. Nitrate is an essential nutrient required by the plants for their growth. ...
- Nitrogen Fixation Bacteria. Nitrogen, along with potassium and phosphorus, is one of the primary nutritive building blocks of plant life.
- Denitrification Bacteria. ...
- Actinobacteria. ...
What kinds of bacteria live in the soil?
Some of the more common soil bacteria, by genus, are:
- Rhizobium
- Bacillus
- Mycobacterium
- Streptomyces
- Xanthomonas
- Arthrobacter
- Micrococcus
- Pseudomonas
- Corynebacterium
- Agrobacterium
What are microorganisms found in soil?
What bacteria are commonly found in soil?
- Biochemical processes.
- Nitrogen fixation.
- Similarities to fungi.
- Antibiotics.
- Types.
- Blue-green algae and nitrogen fixation.
- Flagellates.
- Amoebae.
Are fungi only found in soil?
Fungi are found all around the world and grow in a wide range of habitats, including deserts. Most grow on land (terrestrial) environments, but several species live only in aquatic habitats. Most fungi live in either soil or dead matter, and many are symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi.
THE LIVING SOIL: BACTERIA
Bacteria are tiny, one-celled organisms – generally 4/100,000 of an inch wide (1 µm) and somewhat longer in length. What bacteria lack in size, they make up in numbers. A teaspoon of productive soil generally contains between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria. That is as much mass as two cows per acre.
A Few Important Bacteria
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria form symbiotic associations with the roots of legumes like clover and lupine, and trees such as alder and locust. Visible nodules are created where bacteria infect a growing root hair.
Where Are Bacteria?
Various species of bacteria thrive on different food sources and in different microenvironments. In general, bacteria are more competitive when labile (easy-to-metabolize) substrates are present. This includes fresh, young plant residue and the compounds found near living roots.
Bug Biography: Bacteria That Promote Plant Growth
Certain strains of the soil bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens have anti-fungal activity that inhibits some plant pathogens. P. fluorescens and other Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas species can increase plant growth in several ways. They may produce a compound that inhibits the growth of pathogens or reduces invasion of the plant by a pathogen.
Topline
A potentially deadly bacteria has been detected in soil and water samples in the U.S. for the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday, warning that the rare but dangerous disease it causes is likely endemic in areas along the Gulf Coast.
Key Facts
Burkholderia pseudomallei, bacteria that can cause a “rare and serious disease” called melioidosis, was found in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi, the agency said in a health alert.
Key Background
Authorities began investigating the area after two patients were diagnosed with melioidosis in southern Mississippi in 2020 and 2022. Genetic studies indicated that both patients had been infected with the same novel strain of B. pseudomallei from the Western Hemisphere.
What To Watch For
Further studies on the bacteria’s spread. The CDC said that B. pseudomallei “cannot feasibly be removed from the soil” once well-established. It is possible that means it is now in the U.S. for good, though it’s possible it has been for some time and remained undetected.
Big Number
12. That’s the average number of melioidosis cases that are reported to the CDC each year. Most of these have been in people who had recently traveled to a country where B. pseudomallei is known to be endemic.
Surprising Fact
Contaminated aromatherapy sprays sold at Walmart were linked to a multistate outbreak of melioidosis in 2021. Four people in Georgia, Kansas, Texas and Minnesota were sickened, two of whom died, the CDC said.
Further Reading
A lavender spray was supposed to freshen homes. Instead, it killed two people. (NBC News)
