MICRORGANISMS
Living organism too small to be seen with naked eye but visible under a microscope.
Also called microbes.
Eg: Bacteria, fungi, Virus
All the microorganisms are divided into 3 major kingdoms:
Kingdom Monera
Kingdom Protoctista
Kingdom fungi
Kingdom: Fungi
Key Features
a) Cell type- eukaryotic/ multicellular (except yeast)
b) Nucleus/ Nuclear membrane- Present
c) Mode of nutrition- heterotrophic (parasitic & saprophytic)
d) Fungi reproduce by spores
Spores are present in structures called sporangia
Fungal spores are carried by air or water current and can travel for a long distance
When spores break open it produces hyphae and mycelium
Structure of Fungi
a) When multicellular the main body is called mycelium.
b) Mycelium consist of many single, delicate thread like structures called hyphae.
c) Each hyphae is surrounded by cell wall made up of chitin.
d) Yeast does not have hyphae and mycelium.
Mode of nutrition
Do not contain chlorophyll (no photosynthesis).
- Are heterotrophic.
a) Parasitic fungi – They live on another organism (host) from which they obtain their food &
shelter. Eg: Aspergillus, Puccinia
b) Saprophytic fungi – They obtain food from dead and decay organic matter.
Eg: Rhizobium
Kingdom:Monera
•Key Features
a) Cell type- Prokaryotic/ unicellular
b) Nucleus- Absent but DNA is present as long strand in cytoplasm.
c) Mode of nutrition- both autotrophic and heterotrophic
Example- Bacteria & Cyanobacteria
Bacteria is found everywhere. It is both harmful and beneficial.
Example-
a) Disease causing bacteria - Tuberculosis, Cholera, typhoid, food poisoning etc.
b) Beneficial bacteria- sewage treatment, yoghurt and cheese, preparation of washing powder
Under favourable circumstances :
(i) Bacteria reproduce by the process called binary fission when enough warmth,
moisture and food is available
(ii) Each bacterium divide into two every 20 minutes
(iii) When conditions become unfavourable (hot and dry) some bacteria produce
spores for survival
(iv) Spores are broken out when favourable conditions return
Blue green algae
They are also called as cyanobacteria.
They can do photosynthesis.
They live in seas, rivers and oceans. Some are found in soil also.
Eg: Anabaena, Spirulina, Gracillaria
Kingdom: Protoctista
Key Features
a) Cell type- Eukaryotic/ unicellular
b) Nucleus- present
c) Mode of nutrition- both autotrophic and heterotrophic
d) Live in aquatic habitat and damp places, few are parasites.
They are further divided into Protophyta and Protozoa
Unicellular plants which are capable of making their own food are called as Protophyta
Eg: algae , euglena
Unicellular animals which feed on other organisms for food are called protozoans
Eg: amoeba, paramecium, ciliates, flagellates
Some organisms have long hair called flagellum (flagellates) and others have tiny hairs
called cilia (ciliates) for movement in water
Amoeba neither has flagellum nor cilia but has projections from its body called
pseudopodia for movement
Diseases caused:
Malaria, sleeping sickness, amoebic dysentery
Viruses
Virus does not have cell structure
They do not feed, respire or excrete when present outside the living organism but ,
when they enter the living tissues they reproduce
Virus destroys the cells and cause disease
Viruses are highly specific and attacks different types of cells
Eg : HIV (human immuno deficiency virus ),
Influenza Virus
Diseases :
Common cold, chicken pox, measles, rabies
Decomposers:
They are the microorganisms which feed on dead and decayed organic matter and
break them down by the process called decomposition.
These organisms feed on the dead remains and rot them down thereby releasing the
minerals from the body tissues into the soil
It improves the nutrient content in the soil and minerals are taken up by the plants
through roots
Microorganisms ensure that the minerals are recycled in the environment if not, the
minerals would be locked up and hence unavailable for living organisms.
Degradation:
It is the process of breakdown of complex materials into simpler molecules.
Disease causing Micro organisms:
Fungi Disease
Humans Ringworm
Athletes foot
Scalp infection
Skin infection
Plants Potato blight
Leaf rust
Powdery mildew
Bacteria Disease
Humans
Vibrio cholerae Cholera
Salmonella typhi Typhoid
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tuberculosis
Helicobacter pylori Gastric ulcer
Plants
Agrobacterium tumefaciens Crown gall
Xanthomonas oryzae Blight disease( rice plant)
Pseudomonas tomato Leaf spot disease (tomato plant)
Citrus canker
Xanthomonas axonopodis
Protozoa Disease
Plasmodium vivax Malaria
Entamoeba hystolytica Amoebiasis
Virus Disease
Humans
Human Immuno deficiency virus Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
Variola virus Small pox
Varicella zoster Chicken pox
Plants
Mosaic virus Mosaic disease
Beneficial uses of micro-organisms:
Fungi:
Fermentation process in baking industry
Preparation of wine
Edible species of mushroom
Penicillin- antibiotic drug
Mycorrhiza fungi- Symbiotic relationship with roots of plant
Plants – provide nutrition to fungi
Fungi- Improves the plant ability to absorb more mineral nutrients
Bacteria:
Lactobacillus- in the preparation of curd from milk- convert lactose into lactic acid
Acetobacter aceti- convert alcohol into acetic acid or vinegar
Lactobacillus and streptococcus- Preparation of cheese and butter
Streptomyces griseus- used in the preparation of Streptomycin antibiotic.
Nitrogen-fixing plants- symbiotic relationship- nitrogen- fixing bacteria- fix atmospheric
nitrogen into the soil
Bacillus thuringiensis- Used in genetically modified crops to protect the pants from pests.
Blue green algae:
Fucus, Gracillaria- Used in ice cream and jellies as a thickening agent
Spirulina, chlorella- Used as single- celled proteins( SCP) –SCP are rich source of
proteins used as dietary supplements.
