Economical importance of Bacteria

Helpful Bacteria :

(1) Samitation value: Some bacteria bring about decomposition of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and other complex organic compound in the bodies of plants and animals and in their waste products. In this way they clear the earth of organic debris and return to the soil and air, the simple substances which are necessary for manufacture of food by green plants and maintenance of soil fertility.

(2) Soil fertility: Some bacteria increase soil fertility. Nitrogen is an essential ingredient of all having protoplasm. All growing plants therefore require it in their metabolism. Nitrogen is most abundant of all minerals. It makes up about 80% of atmospheres composition. They are of two kinds:

(i) Nitrogen fixing bacteria: Some live free in soil and others in root modules of leguminous plants. These bacteria are able to make use of atmospheric nitrogen and change it into nitrogenous compounds. This process is called nitrogen fixation e.g. Bacillus radicicola.

(ii) Nitrifying bacteria: These bacteria covert free nitrogen into ammonium compounds. They are converted into nitrates.

(iii) Nitrogen Cycle: Cycle of changes by which nitrogen passes wing to activities of bacteria and other living organisms is called nitrogen cycle.

(3) Industrial Value: The metabolic process and products of bacteria are important in many industries like vinegar, Dairies, Alcohols, Tea, tobacco, textile and Tanneries.

(4) Medicinal Values: Antibiotics and Vitamins are obtained by bacterial activities. Stroptomycin is obtained from streptomyces grisens.

Harmful Bacteria:

Most harmful activities of bacteria include epidermis and ailment of human beings, animals and plants. They take highest tool of human life.

(1) Human Diseases: Bacteria causes many serious diseases of man e.g. Tuberculosis meningitis, pleumonia, lock jaw, typhoid, cholera, diphtheria, leprosy and dysentery.

(2) Animal diseases: Tuberculosis of cattle, anthrax of sheep, chicken, cholera, pneumonia, in horses, sheep and goats and various serious diseases are caused by bacteria.

(3) Plant diseases: Fire blight of pears, citrus canker, cotton root rot, potato blackleg, soft rot of carrot, cabbage and cucumber, plants. Pine apple rot and wild diseases of tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, squash, are serious plant diseases caused by bacteria.

(4) Food spoiling: Several species of bacteria infect food stuffs and spoil then by producing poisons. Most common poisoning bacteria are clostridium botulinum.