History of Soil Microbiology

Contributions of scientists for the development of Soil Microbiology in chronological order

1838 - J.B. Boussingault showed that Legumes can obtain nitrogen from air when grown in soil which was not heated.

1858, 1866 - In 1858 Leishman & 1866 Woronin showed that nodules are formed on the roots of leguminous plants and bacteria are responsible for forming nodules.

1879 - Frank explained that nodules on the roots of the legume plants are formed as a result of inoculation with microorganisms which contributes for the fertility.

1886 - Hillriegel and Wilfarth

showed that the growth of non-legume plant was directly proportional to the amount of nitrogen supplied, whereas, in legumes there was no relationship between the quantity of nitrogen supplied and extent of plant growth
They also suggested that bacteria in the root nodules of legumes accumulate atmospheric nitrogen and made it available to plants.
Showed that a mutually beneficial association exists between bacteria (Rhizobia) and legume root and legumes could utilize atmospheric nitrogen (1888)
Legumes took Nitrogen from air through the agency of bacteria existing in the nodules of the roots

1888 - Beijerinck, Isolated the root nodule bacteria in pure culture

1856 - Liebig showed that nitrates were formed in soil due to addition of nitrogenous fertilizers in soil..i.e. nitrification

1890 & 1903 - S. N. Winogradsky in 1890 and Omeliansky in 1903 found that anaerobic bacteria degrade cellulose

1903 - Lipman and Brown studied ammonification of organic nitrogenous substances by soil microorganisms and developed the tumbler / beaker method for studying different types of transformations in soil.

1904 – Hiltner coined the term "Rhizosphere" to denote that region of soil which is subjected to the influence of plant roots. Rhizosphere is the region where soil and plant roots make contact.

1929 – Starkey; 1940 – Lochhead; 1946 – Katznelson; 1956 – Rovira; 1961 - Matcura & associates studied the microorganisms in the rhizosphere.

1909 - Russel and Hutchinson studied the importance of Protozoa in controlling bacterial population and activity in soil.

1918 - Conn developed the technique for direct soil examination using microscope.

1927 & 1930-1927, Rossi & Cholodny in 1930 developed contact slide technique to study soil microorganisms

1921- 27 - Rayner & Melin; Harley (UK); Gerdemann (Germany); Marx, Trappe & Hacskaylo (USA); Browen (Australia) studied on Mycorrhizal Fungi

1929 - Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin

1931 - Van Niel studied soil bacteria and bacterial photosynthesis

1932 - Fred & Associates worked on nodule bacteria

1936 – Garret made the ecological classification of soil fungi

1940 - Allen and Allen studies soil bacteria in general and root nodule bacteria

1944 – Selman A Waksman discovered Streptomycin

1945 – Starkey studied iron bacteria

1947 – Umbreit studies the Problems of autotrophy

1956 – Ruinen developed Phyllosphere concept

Contributions of some important scientists

S.N. Winogradsky (1856-1953)

Winogradsky was a Russian microbiologist who is often called the “Father of Soil Microbiology”

In 1885, at the University of Strasbourg , he began his investigations on Beggiatoa , a sulphur oxidizing bacterium.

1887, he worked at the University of Zurich. His investigations were concentrated on the oxidation of nitrogen in the soil.

Demonstrated the role of bacteria in nitrification process in 1890. Isolated two groups of nitrifying bacteria.

He proved that the oxidation was a two step process: NH₃⁺ → NO₃^- and NO₃^- →NO₂^-

and that each step was performed by different organisms.

1891 - Established the role of microorganisms in N transformation process.

Discovered the autotrophic mode of life among bacteria and established the microbial transformation of N and S.

Winogradsky took up the problem of non symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

He discovered and isolated a nitrogen-fixing obligate anaerobe growing below the surface in the N free medium and identified the organism as Clostridium pasteurianum (1890).

In 1895, took on the problem of retting flax and hemp & showed that retting could be done with pure cultures of anaerobic bacteria, away from a stream.

Between 1926 and 1929, he took up a detailed study of aerobic organisms involved in cellulose decomposition.

He was the first person to describe the fusiform, cellulose-degrading cells in the genus Cytophaga.

By his studies on nitrification and sulfur oxidation the concept of microbial autotrophy, wherein inorganic substrates are used as a source of energy for growth by microorganisms has been established.

The first microbiologist to investigate the organisms found in complex biofilm communities & developed the Winogradsky column.

He is pioneer in selective enrichment techniques

To isolate organisms from nature, he made a miniature model pond cross section which has since been called as Winogradsky column.

Winogradsky column is a self-contained ecosystem, where in which he studied the sulfur cycle.

Winogradsky also studied the consumption of hydrogen sulfide gas by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria directly in their natural habitat.

Winogradsky also investigated microbial oxidation of ferrous iron, Fe₂⁺, the reduced from of iron to ferric iron, Fe₃⁺ an essential component of rust.

Winogradsky and Beijerinck, 1890

Developed the technique of enrichment culture making use of the principle of natural selection. It is a technique in which environmental (including nutritional) conditions are controlled to favour the development of a specific organisms or group of organisms.

It involves the successive transfer of micro organisms in desired substrate for the isolation of sparsely occurring unusual types of microorganism.

Beijerinck

Isolated Azospirillum in 1822

1858- He was the first to isolate and describe Azotobacter and obtained the pure culture of Azotobacter chroococcum and A. agilis.

1888- obtained the pure culture of root nodule bacterium Rhizobium. Obtained the pure culture of Thiobacillus thioparus, T.denitrificans and sulfur oxidizing bacteria

1893 - He established the transformation of Nitrogen.

Alexander Fleming (England)

1929 - He discovered the Antibiotic Penicillin which is the important milestone in medical microbiology

He found that natural substances / natural products are having antimicrobial activity. He reported that Nasal mucous, saliva are having antimicrobial property due to the action of lysozyme.

He worked with Straphylococcus aureus and observed the inhibition of growth of S. aureus in the plate due to the growth of Penicillin.

Florey and chain latter isolated penicillin in pure culture.

Selman A. Waksman

1922-Isolated Thiobacillus thioxidans

1927- he published book on "Principles of soil Microbiology".

1939- Identified the soil organism producing antibiotics

1942, he showed the importance of soil as the source of antagonistic organisms.

Discovered the antibiotic streptomycin, 1944 for tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

He discovered Streptomycin, Neomycin, Actinomycin antibiotics.

Studied variety of biochemical reactions carried out by soil microorganisms while decomposing organic matter.

Quiz test for the introduction and historical developments

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