Mineral Nutrition Ques 2
2. Which of the following bacteria reduce nitrate in soil into nitrogen?
(a) Nitrosomonas
(b) Nitrobacter
(c) Nitrococcus
(d) Thiobacillus
Show Answer
Answer : d
Hints & Solution
(d) Thiobacillus denitrificans, a type of denitrifiers, converts nitrates in soil to free atmospheric nitrogen, thus depleting soil fertility and reducing agricultural productivity.
Thiobacillus is a genus of Gram-negative Betaproteobacteria. Thiobacillus oxidizes thiosulfate and elemental sulphur to sulphate, and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans oxidizes ferrous ions to the ferric form. This diverse oxidizing ability allows A. ferrooxidans to tolerate high concentrations of many different ions, including iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, and zinc.
BETA
