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Department of Agricultural Microbiology

Postal Address:

College of Agriculture

Kerala Agricultural University

Vellanikkara

Thrissur Kerala 680656

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Basic Information

Agricultural Microbiology

Genesis

An Agricultural Microbiology Unit was established under the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, in 2003. It was subsequently upgraded to a statutory Department of Agricultural Microbiology during May, 2010. A separate building for the Department was constructed under ICAR 100 crores special one-time grant in the year 2014. Currently, the department is well-equipped with laboratories and PG classroom. The department is actively involved in teaching, research and extension activities (imparting training to farmers, faculty, Agricultural officers, students and other stake holders in various aspects of bioinoculants and waste management).

Vision/ Objective

To impart and maintain quality in education, research and extension activities in the field of Agricultural Microbiology

Mandate

To strengthen teaching, research and extension in the field of Agricultural Microbiology

The priority areas include:

Climate change, its impact on beneficial soil microflora and mitigation of climate change by exploiting microbes
Documentation of microbial diversity

· Research on developing novel microbial consortium and formulations of bioinoculants

· Large scale production and distribution of microbial inoculants

· Identification of novel microbes for mitigation of climate change

· Soil and plant health management through bioinoculants

· Identification of novel microbes and genes through metagenomics

· Rapid composting of biosolid wastes using microbial agents/consortia

· Mass production and distribution of microbial inoculants

· Documentation of microbial diversity in different agro-ecological units of Kerala

· Impart entrepreneurship training for setting up of bioinoculant production unit

· Provide training to farmers, stake holders, faculty, students related to bioinoculants and waste management

Facilities

· Well-equipped inoculation lab

· Preparatory lab

· Instrumentation lab

· Molecular biology lab

· Bioinoculants production unit

· Composting unit for bio-solid wastes

· Classroom and lecture hall

· Green house

Faculty strength:

Sl. No.	Name	Designation
1	Dr. K. Surendra Gopal	Professor and Head
2	Dr. Boby.V. Unnikrishnan	Assistant Professor
3	Dr. Panchami. P.S	Assistant Professor
4	Mr. Saeed. T	Assistant Professor (On deputation for Ph.D.)

Technical & supporting staff

Sl. No.	Name	Designation
1	Mr. Sunil. S	Lab Assistant Gr.III

Awards / Recognitions:

· Certificate of Appreciation by KAU for the valuable contributions as Associate Breeder of the Nutmeg variety KAU Pullan, KAU Poothara, KAU Mundathanam, KAU Punnathanam and KAU Kochukudy at a function of Variety Release by State Seed Committee held at KAU Central Auditorium on 26-5-2018 (Dr. K. Surendra Gopal)

· Meritorious service award for completion of 25 years of service in KAU was given on the Foundation day function at KAU on 01-02-2021 by Hon. Vice- Chancellor, TNAU (Dr. K. Surendra Gopal)

Granted patents since 2019

Unnikrishnan BV, Gurumurthy DS and Navin Sharma 2020, Plant promoter and uses therof, Patent No. 339530, Granted on June 26, 2020

Unnikrishnan BV, Shanakaranarayana GD and Suribabu T 2020, Extraction buffer for isolation of RNA and uses therof, Patent No.338290, Granted on June 10, 2020.

Achievements / Major Accomplishments

ü The technology was generated on successful management of biosolid wastes using microbial consortia and successfully commercialized for the benefit of stakeholders in Kerala.

ü Designed and fabricated KAU Smart Biobin for efficient composting of household biosolid waste generated at the source itself.

ü Liquid microbial consortia (Bacillus subtilis and Gongoronella butleri) was developed for an efficient management of biosolid wastes.

ü Developed an efficient method for conversion of human hair waste in to liquid fertilizer and the technology has been transferred to entrepreneurs.

ü Ten percent compost was the best carrier for mixing liquid fertilizer and rose water (one percent) was effective for removing smell from the liquid hair fertilizer. The carrier material and additive mixed liquid fertilizer was found to increase the yield and growth of okra.

ü An efficient actinobacterial isolate (Streptomyces spiralis) was identified for biodegradation of fruit and vegetable waste.

ü A total of 4772 kg of bioagents were distributed to different regions of Kerala in last five years.

ü Ten training programmes (3 collaborated) were organized in the department related to biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and waste management.

ü Novel N- fixers, P- solubilizers and K- solubilizers were isolated and characterized from different regions of Kerala.

ü Regular training programmes were conducting in Wayanad district on the use and application of biofertilizers to farmers and distributed biofertilizers through ICAR -AINP project.

ü Under SCSP programme (ICAR-AINP), training programme on importance and application methods of biofertilizers were imparted to SC farmers in Wayanad district. Biofertilizer kit comprising of vegetable seeds, sprayer and spade were distributed among SC farmers free of cost for popularization of biofertilizers among SC farmers.

ü Initiated new research areas in the department on Nano biofertilizers, biofortification of iron content in rice, characterization of drought tolerant pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs, cyanobacteria and microbes for keratin degradation etc.

ü Efficient use of microbial inoculants for aerobic composting and management of biosolid wastes using Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sp. and Trichoderma asperellum consortium was found successful.

ü Identified abiotic stress tolerant Trichoderma harzianum (CKT) for growth promotion and Phytophthora disease resistance in pepper at high temperature and acidic pH.

ü Funneliformis mosseae (AMF) was the most promising AMF for improving the growth, yield and phosphorus uptake in Solenostemon rotundifolius.

ü Alginate based microbial consortium of N fixers, P solubilizers and K solubilizers were standardized and increased the growth and yield of tomato.

ü Evaluation of microbial consortium of N fixer (Enterobacter cloacae), P solubilizer(Bacillus tequilensis) and K solubilizer (Bacillus altitudinis) in Pokkali rice of under pot culture showed increased growth parameters and yield.

ü Methylobacterium populi (Nel-c) was found to be the most promising isolate for growth promotion and leaf blight disease management in amaranthus.

ü Actinobacteria (Streptomyces sp.) for black pepper growth promotion was identified from Wayand rhizosphere soils.

ü Drought and acid tolerant actinomycete (Streptomyces spinoverrucosus)increased growth and disease resistance against sheath blight in rice.

ü Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus sp.) from Wayanad rhizosphere soils were identified for the growth and management of rhizome rot of ginger.

ACADEMICS

Courses at Under Graduate level

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credit
Micro 2102	Agricultural Microbiology	2 + 1
Elpt. 4208	Microbial Inoculants Production: Biocontrol Agents and Biofertilizers	0 + 10
Elcp4204	Agriculture Waste Management	0+10

Courses at Post Graduate level

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credit
Micro 501	Techniques in Microbiology	0+2
Micro 502	Principles of Microbiology	3 + 1
Micro 503	Microbial Physiology and Metabolism	3 + 1
Micro 504	Microbial Genetics	2 + 1
Micro 505	Soil Microbiology	2 + 1
Micro 506	Microbial Biotechnology	2 + 1
Micro 507	Food Microbiology	2 + 1
Micro 509	Environmental Microbiology	2+1

Courses at Ph. D. level

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credit
Micro 601	Improvement in fermentation technology	2 + 1
Micro 602	Microbial physiology and regulation	2+0
Micro 603	Recent development in soil microbiology	2+0
Micro 604	Recent approaches in environmental microbiology	2 + 0
Micro 605	Plant microbe interactions	2+1

EXTENSION SERVICES:

Training, seminars and other services

· Popularization and demonstration of biofertilizers in the tribal areas of Wayanad

· Mass production and sale of biofertilizers, biocontrol agents and composting inoculum

· Training programs on mass production of bioagents for farmers and stakeholders

· Awareness classes on usage of biofertilizers and household management of biosolid waste organized in panchayats, municipalities and resident associations

· Participation in Exhibitions of VAIGA, Flower show and various other public events

· Organizing meetings for efficient dissemination of technologies on biofertilizer production and waste management

· Consultancy services are provided to farmers and entrepreneurs

· Offering services for microbial analysis of soil, water, biofertilizer and food samples

· Molecular Identification of bacterial and fungal cultures for research purpose

RESEARCH

Projects:

Completed Projects: (Major projects in last 5 years)

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Funding Agency	Total Financial Outlay
1	Establishment of a pilot plant for management of solid waste	Dr. D.Girija	KAU	6.0 lakhs
2	Management of biosolid waste of biocontrol lab using microbes	Dr. D. Girija	KAU	2.0 lakhs
3	Microbial inoculant technology for cropping systems of Kerala	Dr. D. Girija	State Planning Board, GoK	18 lakhs
4	Exploitation of native agriculturally important microorganisms for integrated nutrient management in various agro-ecosystems of Kerala	Dr. D. Girija	State Planning Board, GoK	50 lakhs
5	Eco-friendly methods of waste management	Dr. D. Girija	State Planning Board, GoK	7.0 lakhs
6	*Standardization of liquid formulations for the shelf life of Azospirillum* and phosphate solubilizing bacteria**	Dr. K. Surendra Gopal	State Planning Board, GoK	5.24 lakhs
7	Native Actinobacteria for exploitation in biosolid waste management	Dr. D. Girija and Dr. K.Surendra Gopal	5.0 lakhs	State Planning Board, GoK

Ongoing Projects

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Total Financial outlay	Funding Agency
1	ICAR-All India Network Project on Soil Biodiversity- Biofertilizers-Exploitation of soil biodiversity for popularization of biofertilizers in tribal areas of Wayanad district	Dr. K.Surendra Gopal	62.9 lakhs	ICAR
2	Utilization of human hair as fertilizer	Dr. K.Surendra Gopal	5.0 lakhs	Station funding-Plan Project
3	Centre of Excellence in Microbial Technology-sub-centre	Dr. K.Surendra Gopal	30 lakhs	State Planning Board, GoK
4	Network Project on Nanotechnology	Dr. Panchami. P.S	9 lakhs	State Planning Board, GoK
5	Network project on development of a bioformulation of plant growth promoting pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs for drought mitigation in major vegetable crops of Kerala	Dr. Panchami. P.S	10.50 lakhs	State Planning Board, GoK
6	Network project on conservation and utilization of native cyanobacteria from Kerala	Dr. Panchami. P.S	30 lakhs	State Planning Board, GoK
7	Evaluation of bacterial isolates for increased iron content in popular rice varieties	Dr. K.Surendra Gopal	9 lakhs	State Planning Board, GoK

Revolving Fund scheme:

Sl. No.	Project	Principal Investigator	Annual average turnover
1	Mass production of bioagents and microbial analysis	Dr. K.Surendra Gopal	12.73 lakhs

Services offered by the Microbiology Department

Services	Rate (per sample)
Identification of bacteria (PCR with 16SrDNA sequencing)	Rs.1000
Microbial analysis of soil Total microbial count	Rs.350 per parameter
Microbial analysis of water Total coliforms E.coli	Rs.350 Rs.350

Items available for sales by the Microbiology Department

Sl.No.	Items Name
1	Azospirillum
2	Azotobacter
3	Rhizobium
4	Trichoderma viride
5	Pseudomonas fluorescens
6	Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM)
7	KAU Smart Bio bin
9	Coirpith based inoculum
10	Bacillus powder
11	Bacillus composting tonic
13	Thumboormuzhi compost
14	Thumboormuzhi compost enriched with Pseudomonas
15	Thumboormuzhi compost enriched with Trichoderma