Agricultural Microbiology

Genesis

Considering the importance of Microbiology in Agriculture, it was started as one of the units of the Department of Biology during 1971 in TNAU and attained the status of separate department during 1979. This department was further bifurcated into Department of Bioenergy, Department of Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology. Since its inception, the department is involved in research, teaching and extension activities. The department has released novel strains of biofertilizers for various crops and soils and is pioneer in deducing novel strains for K, Zn and Mn solubilization and hence is recognized as Nodal agency for bioinoculants in Tamil Nadu and authorized for quality check of agricultural bioinoculants.

Mandate

Microbial inoculants for enhanced availability of nutrients
Development of antimicrobial compounds from microbial sources
Bioconversion of organic wastes, Biofuels and bioremediation
Microbial processes for value addition

Mission

Offering structured degree programmes in Agricultural Microbiology.
To develop technologies on biofertilizers for agriculture, horticulture and forestry
To develop scientific man power for development of Agricultural Microbiology
To provide periodical training on biofertilizers for Institutions and Government organizations
To provide analytical and advisory services on biofertilizers
To develop strategies for bioprospecting of microorganisms

Vision

Development of Biofertilizer technologies for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry
Establishment of culture collection centre for biofertilizers at National level

Teaching

Post graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag) and Ph.D. in Agricultural Microbiology were started in 1979 and so far 245 M.Sc. (Ag) and 93 Ph.D. students were trained. This department also offers 13 under graduate courses in microbiology for B.Sc. (Ag), B.Tech. (Biotech), B.Tech (Hort), B.Tech (Food Process Engineering) programmes.

Research

The recent research focus of the department has been extended on bioprocessing, fermentation of vegetables, climate change impact on microbial diversity and biofuels. The department has established collaborative research work with international agencies/ institutes viz., Institute of Applied Microbiology, Justus Leiburg University, Giessen, Germany (Bioremediation and metagenomics), Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa (Algal biofuels), School of Applied Biology, Florida International University, Miami, USA (Soil metagenomics), Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainsville, USA (Laccase system for biomass conversion), Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK (Endophytic N₂ fixation in cereal crops), IRRI, LosBonas, Philippines (Biological N fixation in wetland ecosystem), Department of Life Sciences, King's College, London (Photobiological Hydrogen production by cyanobacteria) and national two institutes viz., CRRI, Cuttack (Climate change and microbial dynamics), CRIDA, Hyderabad; UAS, Dharwad; Delhi University (Soil genomics network), NBAIM, Mau Nath Bhanjan, UP (Food fermentation and value addition), NCOF, Faizabad (Bioinoculant's quality control), IISC, Bhopal (Biological Nitrogen Fixation Network) and BRNS, Mumbai (Mycorrhiza).

The department is having research projects from ICAR, DBT, DST, BRNS, MOFPI and so on with a total budget of about Rs. 5.0 crores per annum. Based on the work, the department was recognized as the Centre for Advanced Studies in Agricultural Microbiology by UNDP / FAO / ICAR during 1979 to 1986 and by ICAR from 1997 onwards. The ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi recognizes the department and awarded as Centre of Excellence for Plant Microbe interactions from 2014 on words. The Tamil Nadu state Planning commission has sanctioned Rhizotron facility to the department to study the plant – microbe – soil interactions with a financial outlay of Rs. 9.00 crore in 2015.

Our strength

The Department of Agrl. Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is working on Biofertilizer research for the past 30 years and identifying new effective strains, new formulations, newer organisms as biofertilizer are in progress. The department has a separate well-equipped Biofertilizer Production and Quality Control unit, which serve as nodal agency for maintaining the quality control of Biofertilizers at state level. Following are some of the mile-stones of biofertilizer research by TNAU.

Soil and crop specific bioinoculants for major nutrients
Plant growth promoting phyllosphere inoculants
First commercial formulation of bioinoculants
Developed the quality control standards for bioinoculants
Microbial consortia and mixed bioinoculants
Multifaceted beneficial strains as bioinoculants
Liquid formulation of bioinoculants with longer shelf life
PPFM inoculant for drought mitigation in rice
Molecular markers for strain authentication
Bioinoculants for micronutrients
Simple commercial production technique for mycorrhizal bioinoculant
Distribution of quality strains of bioinoculants to government and private bioinoculant production agencies
Quality certification for commercial inoculants
Imparting hands on trainings to the entrepreneurs for quality inoculants production

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