Department of Agricultural Microbiology

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The Department of Agricultural Microbiology was established in 1984 with the UG course . Later the PG programme has be established in 2009-2010. It is now widely recognized as Excellence in Agricultural Microbiology both concerning teaching and research. The Department presently runs different Academic programs, viz., M. Sc. (Agri), and the Doctoral program, Undergraduate and Diploma More than twenty students have completed the Master's programme and about one student has completed the Doctoral program from the Department. The alumni of the Department occupy positions of great responsibility in different areas such as the University of Agricultural Sciences Raichur , Department of Agriculture Karanataka, etc.

The Department Mainly imparts

• Provide a sound academic knowledge for overall development of personality for a successful career in different areas of Agricultural Microbiology
• Provide an environment that fosters continuous improvement and innovation in the subject.
• Inculcate in students right skills oriented towards self development in their area of specialization. 
• Skill development with respect to isolation techniques of Microbes , production techniques of Bioinoculants, Bioremediation and food processing methods etc

          The Department has an excellent infrastructure for teaching and research. There are main laboratory in the  Department , an organic farming Research laboratory, NAIBL accredited   Pesticide  residue and quality control labs, Bioinput laboratory for production of different Biofertlizers viz., Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, and Phosphate solubilising Biofertlizers and   well equipped  classrooms, one seminar Hall with a digital podium connected to LCD . apart from regular and routine bacteriological equipment, advanced instruments such as HPLC, GC, electrophoresis  system, Fermenters, Refrigerated centrifuges,  High level microscopy, laminar air flow  facilities. And green house , field facilities. Recently under RKVY project we uplifted the food microbiology laboratory in association with NAIBL accredited   Pesticide  residue and quality control lab. Besides the faculty are also involved in extension outreach activities.  UG, PG and Doctoral students are being trained for competitive exams like JRF, SRF NET and ARS examinations conducted by ICAR, New Delhi and trainings on skill developments in isolation techniques of microorganisms from different sources.  also organized to rural youths, farmers and staff from the State Department of Agriculture as and when required on 

1. Production  and Application technology of Biofertlizers.
2. Agriculture  management tools in the networked digital environment.
3. Isolation and purification techniques of Agriculturally important microorganisms including Endophytes.
4. Skill  aquittance techniques of pesticide residue analysis and Use of GC MS and  HPLC 

Technologies recommended/accepted for inclusion in Package of Practices.

Standardization of protocol for extraction of phycocyanin from algae.Phycocyanin is a protein extracted from algae used as natural coloring agent in foods. For the maximum recovery of phycocyanin from spirulina.The phycocyanin extracted from algae was converted to powder form using spray dryer. Results of the experiment revealed that phycocyanin was effective in suppressing the growth of E. coli, Streptococcus and Pseudomonas sp.

Details of Research in Progress pertaining to the respective departments
 

Isolation of Rhizobium strains for various abiotic stress conditions in pigeonpea and its Performance under different agro-ecological conditions.

Fifteen strains of Pigeonpea rhizobium isolated and tested for growth at different temperatures variations . Maximum nodulation was observed with GRR-8-10 (18.90 nodules per plant.) nodule dry weight of 35.50 mg/plant Rhizobial strains of GRR-8-10 registered an increased yield 853 kg/ha over control 

Interaction studies between cultivars of pigeonpea and strains of Rhizobium

The interaction between three varieties of pigeonpea (WRP-1, Maruti and Asha) and three strains of Rhizobium (CPR-9, GRR-3-8 and RA-43). Among the strains GRR-3-8 increased nodule number (18.66 /plant) and nodule dry weight (36.32 mg/plant.

Enhancing the nodule occupancy for competitiveness of Rhizobium in  Pigeonpea.

 The nodule occupancy in pigeonpea, for this the Rhizobium marker strain RAM-200 was tested in singly and in combination with PGPR. A significant increase in nodule occupancy of 42.25 % was noticed with combined treatment of marker strain RAM-200 

Evaluation of PGPR strains for improving the efficiency of Rhizobium inoculant in Pigeonpea

Among the PGPR strains, WGFlps – 327 (2) performed better with respect to nodulation and grain yield. Maximum grain yield of 1503 kg/ha was observed with WGFlps – 327 (2) in combination with Rhizobium.

Evaluation of Zinc soilubilizing PGPR strains for improving the efficiency of paddy

Among the PGPR strains, ZNB-8 was performed better with respect to grain yield biomass and zinc content in paddy.

Evaluation of thermo tolerant PGPRs for their bio remediation properties

Plant growth promoting isolates (ASR-5, ASR-7, ASR-9) were screened by enrichment culture technique using different concentration of arsenic from sodium arsenite (250ppm, 300ppm, 400ppm and 500 ppm) and also exposed to higher incubation temperature to check the thermo stability. The combined inoculation recorded the higher plant growth, dry matter production and yield. And significant reduction in arsenic uptake of paddy than control.