Uses of Microorganisms
4 Minutes
Uses of microorganisms for kids explains how beneficial microbes protect plants, fight pests, and enrich soil. An English science lesson.
- How bacteria sprayed on flowers protect fruits from insect larvae
- Using Trichoderma and baculovirus as biocontrol agents
- How Rhizobium fixes nitrogen and decomposers enrich soil
What this lesson teaches
Microorganisms are microscopic living organisms that support agriculture by protecting crops from pests, controlling root diseases, and providing nutrients that plants need to grow.
Protecting fruits from pest larvae
- Insects visit open flowers on plants to feed and lay their eggs inside them.
- When a flower turns into a fruit, the insect eggs stay inside and hatch into growing larvae.
- Beneficial bacteria sprayed on blooming flowers eat these insect eggs and kill invading insects.
- This bacterial spray acts as a safe insecticide that keeps fruits free from worms without harming people.
Microbes as biocontrol agents
Harmful fungi including Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium can attack plant roots in the soil, causing a damaging disease called root rot. When root rot strikes, it stops the plant from growing properly and weakens its health. Introducing a helpful fungus called Trichoderma eliminates these harmful fungi and restores normal plant growth. In addition, a virus known as baculovirus serves as a biocontrol agent to protect plants from pest attacks.
Supplying nitrogen for plant growth
- Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients a plant needs to build strong tissues and grow well.
- Even though air contains plenty of nitrogen, plant roots cannot absorb atmospheric nitrogen directly.
- Microbes like Rhizobium bacteria and Cyanobacteria take nitrogen gas from the atmosphere and convert it into soluble nitrates that plants can feed on.
- Insect-eating plants like the Venus flytrap solve this problem differently by catching insects, digesting them, and absorbing their nitrogen.
Recycling nutrients through decomposition
Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi act as decomposers by feeding on organic materials. As these microbes consume organic matter, they break it down and convert it into rich nutrients like nitrates. These released nutrients mix directly into the ground, greatly improving the fertility of the surrounding soil. This natural decomposition process produces organic manure, providing crops with continuous natural fertilizer.