Bacteria | Economic Importance of Bacteria and Fungi
Before reading Economic Importance of Bacteria and Fungi you should read about Bacteria and Fungi.
Bacteria are the most primitive unicellular prokaryotic organisms which do not have a well-defined nucleus and are not enclosed within a nuclear membrane.
Anton von Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist, first observed bacteria in 1675. He named them animalcules.
They are Ubiquitous in nature, commonly found in air, soil, water, deserts, plants,
animals, and in man.
Size Ranges from 0.2 to 1.5 µm in diameter and 3 to 5 µm in length.
Nutrition of Bacteria
- Photoautotrophs: Contain chlorophyll and use light energy for the synthesis of food.
- Chemoautotrophs: Obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds.
- Saprophytes: Grow on dead and decaying organic matter.
- Parasites: Obtain their food from a living host on which they grow.
Respiration in Bacteria
- Aerobic respiration: Absorb atmospheric oxygen.
- Anaerobic respiration: Do not require free oxygen.
Reproduction
- Asexual reproduction: Binary fission/cell division
- Sexual reproduction: Conjugation
Movement
Possess whip-like flagella, which pierce through the cell wall and capsule.
Spore formation
Under adverse conditions, several bacteria survive by the formation of spores.
Examples of Bacteria
Penicillium notatum, Streptomyces griseus, Penicillium chrysogenum, etc.
Economic Importance of Bacteria and Fungi links ~
Useful Role of Bacteria ~ Read here
Harmful Role of Bacteria ~ Read here
Fungi | Economic Importance of Bacteria and Fungi
Fungi are eukaryotic and have a true nucleus enclosed within the nuclear envelope.
Mould is Commonly found on paper, wood, cloth, animal dung, etc. Whereas Yeast Grows profusely in sugar-rich organic substances such as palm juice,
sugarcane juice etc.
Size of mold Ranges from 2-10 µm to
about a few cm. Whereas yeast varies in size from 5 to 10 µm.
Nutrition
- Mould: The hyphae derive their nourishment from the bread piece by the secretion of various enzymes which digest the complex materials into simple molecules through the process of extracellular digestion.
- Yeast: Has a saprophytic mode of nutrition and is dependent on various sugars such as sucrose, fructose, glucose etc.
Reproduction
- Mould
- Asexual reproduction: By means of sporangiophores.
- Sexual reproduction: By means of conjugation.
- Yeast
- Asexual reproduction: By means of budding.
- Sexual reproduction: By means of conjugation.
Economic Importance of Bacteria and Fungi Links ~
Useful Role of Fungi ~ Read here
Harmful Role of Fungi ~ Read here
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