SETHUBHASKARA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH

FOUNDATION, KARAIKUDI

AGM 301 Soil and Applied Microbiology (1+1)

A1. Predominant group of microorganism A1:Bacteria

a) Bacteria b) Fungi

c) Actinomycetes d) Algae

A2. Winogradsky is a A2 : Soil Microbiologist

a) Medical Microbiologist b) Virologist

c) Soil Microbiologist d) Pathologist

A3. Actinomycetes are called as A3:Ray fungi

a) Fungi b) Ray fungi

c) Protozoa d) Mold

A4. The pleasant earthy odour (Geosmin/Petrichor) producing organism A4:Actinomycetes

a) Bacteria b) Fungi

c) Actinomycetes d) Mold

A5. Nitrogen fixation refers to the direct conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into A5: Ammonia

a) Ammonia b) Glucose

c) ATP d) Nitrate

A6. The diagnostic enzyme for denitrification is A6: Nitrate reductase

a) Nitrate reductase b) Nitrate oxidase

c) Nitrogenase d) Pectinase
A7. Cellulose degrading bacteria A7: Clostridium and
Cytophaga
a) Clostridium and Cytophaga b) Trichoderma and Penicillium

c) Strptomyces and Nocardia d) Alternaria and Aspergillus

A8. An example of a symbiotic nitrogen fixer is A8: Rhizobium

a) Azotobacter b) Clostridium

c) Beijerinckia d) Rhizobium

A9. In the process of nitrogen fixation, which of the following microorganism is A9: Non symbiotic
involved microorganisms
Symbiotic
a) Non symbiotic microorganisms b) Symbiotic microorganisms only microorganisms only
only
c) Non symbiotic microorganisms d) Endosymbiont
Symbiotic microorganisms only

A10 The process of converting substrate to protoplasmic carbon is known as A10: Carbon
. assimilation

a) Carbon assimilation b) Mineralization

c) Nitrification d) Organic matter decomposition

A11 The physical structure of the soil is improved by A11: Azotobacter -

. PHBA

a) Azotobacter -PHBA b) Minerals

c) Water d) Inorganic matter

A12 The crops which one is not involved in nodulation A12: Rice and maize
.

a) Alfalfa and clover b) Soyabean and ground nut

c) Bean and lupine d) Rice and maize

A13 The breakdown of cattle manure in biogas is accomplished by which of the A13: Methanogenic
. following type of bacteria

a) Phosphobacteria b) Methanogenic

c) Bacillus d) Pseudomonas

A14 The microbial ecosystem of soil includes A14: Biotic

. components and
Abiotic components
a) Biotic components of soil b) Abiotic components of soil
of soil
c) Biotic components and Abiotic d) Microbes
components of soil

A15 Secondary metabolite is produced during A15: stationary

. phase

a) Log phase b) Lag phase

c) Stationary d) Death phase

Fill in the blanks (Answer all questions)

B1. Root nodules are formed by ------------------------------------ B1:Rhizobium

a) Rhizoctonia b) Rhizobium

c) Agrobacterium d) Rhizosphere

B2. Region around the root zone is called as ------------------------------------ B2:Rhizosphere

a) Ribosomes b) Rhizobium

c) Rhizoids d) Rhizosphere

B3. The population of algae in soil is ------------------------------------ bacteria B3: Generally smaller
 a) Generally smaller than b) Generally greater than than

c) Equal to d) Higher

B4. Example of an Microaerophilic organism ------------------------------------ B4: Azospirillum

a) Azospirillum b) Azotobacter

c) Rhizobium d) Glucanacetobacter

B5. ------------------------------------ is N2 fixing bacterium living in association with B5: Acetobacter

sugarcane

a) Azospirillum b) Acetobacter

c) Frankia d) Azotobacter

B6. Bacterial biopesticide B6: Bacillus

thruingiensis
a) Bacillus thruingiensis b) Verticilliumlecanii

c) Beauveriabassiana d) Metarhiziumanisopliae

B7. ------------------------------------ is a N2 fixing actinomycete B7: Frankia

a) Phosphobacteria b) Acetobacter

c) Frankia d) Azotobacter

B8. ------------------------------------ is petroleum degrading species B8: Penicillium

a) Clostridium b) Cytophaga

c) Penicillium d) Klebsiella

B9. The ------------------------------------ is where that are found on aerial surface of plants B9: Phyllosphere
are growing

a) Rhizosphere region b) Phyllosphere region

c) Microfilmregion d) Rhizoplane region

B10 Most soil protozoa are flagellates or amoebas, having their dominant mode of B10 : Ingestion of
. nitrogen is ------------------------------------ bacteria

a) Ingestion of bacteria b) Ingestion of fungi

c) Ingestion of yeast d) Ingestion of virus

B11 Majority of the soil fungi grow in ------------------------------------ soils with aerobic B11 : Acidic
. condition.

a) Alkaline soil b) Salinity

c) Sodic soil d) Acidic

B12 Conversion of ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate is called as -------------------------- B12 : Nitrification
.

a) Nitrogen fixation b) Denitrification

c) Nitrification d) Ammonification

B13 Xenobiotics are ------------------------------------ B13 : Products used

. for the biological
control of pest
a) Products used for the biological b) Special soil amendments favoured in
control of pest organic farming

c) Synthetic organic compounds d) Organic matter

not found in nature

B14 ------------------------------------ is a biodegradable organic chemical / substance B14 : Garbage

. abiotic component of the ecosystem

a) Plastics b) Oils

c) Pesticides d) Garbage

B15 ------------------------------------ is an abiotic component of the ecosystem B15 : Humus

.

a) Bacteria b) Plants
c) Humus d) Fungi

Match the following

C1 Conn’s direct microscopic a. Azotobacter
method
C2 Aerobic - free living nitrogen b. Quantitative method of soil microorganism
fixing bacteria
C3 M.W.Beijerinck c. Omeliansky
C4 Anaerobic degradation of d. Father of microbial ecology
cellulose

C5 Steptomyces a. Archaebacteria
C6 Saprophytic fungi b. Biogas
C7 Methanobacteria c. The production of antibiotics
C8 Anaerobic digester d. Secure their food from dead organic
materials

C9 Sulfur bacteria a. Absence of cell wall

C10 Mycoplasma b. Corrosion problem
C11 Denitrification process occurs c. Proteolysis
under
C12 Organic matter to amino acid d. Anaerobic

C13 Nitrite to Nitrate a. Lignin peroxidase

C14 VAM b. Nif genes
C15 Rhizobium c. Nitrification
C16 Lignin d. Phosphorous solubilization

Answer key
C1 Conn’s direct microscopic : Quantitative method of soil microorganism
method
C2 Aerobic - free living nitrogen : Azotobacter
fixing bacteria
 C3 M.W.Beijerinck : Father of microbial ecology
C4 Anaerobic degradation of : Omeliansky
cellulose
C5 Steptomyces : The production of antibiotics
C6 Saprophytic fungi : Secure their food from dead organic materials
C7 Methanobacteria : Archaebacteria
C8 Anaerobic digester : Method to convert agricultural waste into a
biogas
C9 Sulfur bacteria : Corrosion problem
C10 Mycoplasma : Absence of cell wall
C11 Denitrification process occurs : Anaerobic
under
C12 Organic matter to amino acid : Proteolysis
C13 Nitrite to Nitrate : Nitrification
C14 VAM : Phosphorous solubilization
C15 Rhizobium : Nif genes

1. Azotobacter is a soil inhabiting bacterium and fixes the atmospheric nitrogen.

D1. Pink colour pigment producing Azotobacter sp. D1:A.macrocytogene

s
a) A.insignis b) A.beijerinckii

c) A.vinelandii d) A.macrocytogenes

D2. The atmospheric N2 fixation is catalysed by the enzyme D2: Nitrogenase

a) Nitrogenase b) Peptidase

c) Pectinase d) Oxidoreductase

D3. Azotobacter forms the special resting structures which are resistant to dessication D3: Cyst

a) Cyst b) Akinetes

c) Bacteroids d) Exospores
D4. Aerobic free living nitrogen fixing microorganism D4: Azotobacter

a) Azotobacter b) Rhizobium

c) Azospirillum d) Vessiculararbuscularmycorrhizae

2. Rhizobium forms nodules and fixes the atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with
legume plants.

D5. Sesbaniarostrata possesses both stem and root nodules D5: Azorhizobium

a) Azorhizobium b) Mesorhizobium

c) Sinorhizobium d) Photorhizobium

D6. Slow grower D6:

BradyrhizobiumJapa
a) Bradyrhizobium Japanicum b) Rhizobium leguminosarum nicum
c) Rhizobium meliloti d) Rhizobiumtrifolii

D7. The bacteria living inside the nodules are irregular in shape and are called as D7: Bacteroids

a) Bacteroids b) Cyst

c) Endospores d) Akinetes

D8. Legume nodule contains a unique protein D8: Leghaemoglobin

a) Leghaemoglobin b) Haemoglobin

c) Inositol d) Myoinositol

3. Phosphorous is only second to nitrogen as a mineral nutrient required for plant, animals and
microorganisms. It is essential for the nucleic acids in all living organisms. It is essential for
accumulation and release of energy.
D9. The cleavage of phosphorous from organic matter is done by enzyme is called as D9: Phosphatases

a) Phosphatases b) Nitrogenase

c) Transferase d) Peptidase

D10 Soil contains a large amount of organic phosphorous which is unavailable to plants. D10: mineralization
. It is microbiologically converted into available form (inorganic form)

a) Mineralization b) Ammonification

c) Nitrate reduction d) Denitrification

D11 Phosphate solubilisation commonly requires D11: Acid production

.

a) Acid production b) Gas production

c) Alkali production d) Ethanol production

D12 Phosphate solubilisation is performed by D12: Bacteria and

. fungi

a) Bacteria and fungi b) Protozoa and bacteria

c) Fungi and yeast d) Algae and bacteria

4. Microorganism inhibit the growth of the other living microorganism is called as antibiotics.
Antagonism among microorganisms is most common phenomena in soil resulting in the
production of antibiotics.

D13 Greatest commercial application of antibiotic is from D13: Streptomyces

.

a) Strptomyces b) Bacteria

c) Yeast d) Fungi
D14 Ernst Chain and Howard Florey had got nobel prize in medicine with D14: Alexander
. Fleming

a) Alexander Fleming b) Waksman

c) Vuillemin d) Beijerinck

D15 Primary metabolite is produced during D15: Log phase

.

a) Log phase b) Lag phase

c) Stationary d) Death phase

D16 Antagonism is defined as one organism inhibits the growth of the other organisms D16: Antibiotics
. by producing

a) Antibody b) Antibiotics

c) Monoclonal antibody d) Antigen

5. Organic matter contains cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Well decomposed organic matter is
called as humus.

D17 Under anaerobic conditions, decomposition of organic matter takes place by the D17: Mesophilic and
. activity of thermophilic

a) Acidophile and Alkalophile b) Psychrophile and Mesophile

c) Acidophile and thermophile d) Mesophilic and thermophilic

D18 Organic matter decomposition by measurement of D18:CO2 evolution

.

a) O2 evolution b) N2 evolution

c) CO2 evolution d) Phosphorous mobilization

D19 Pentose and hexose sugar rich source is D19: Hemicellulose
.

a) Cellulose b) Hemicellulose

c) Pectin d) Lignin

D20 --------------------- is the highly resistant to microbial degradation D20: Lignin

.

a) Lignin b) Hemicellulose

c) Pectin d) Wax

6. Fungi live symbiotically with algae and higher plants. The plant cells as well as the fungi
benefit mutually.

D21 Phosphate solubilisation is performed by D21: Bacteria and

. fungi

a) Bacteria and fungi b) Protozoa and bacteria

c) Fungi and yeast d) Algae and bacteria

D22 VAM fungi increases D22: Absorption of

. water

a) Absorption of water b) Desorption of water

c) Water stress d) Scarcity of water

D23 Some of the VAM species produce spore which is called as D23:Chlamydospores
.

a) Chlamydospores b) Ascospores

c) Basdiospores d) Zoospores
D24 The bacteria is responsible for phosphorous solubilisation D24:Bacillus
. megatherium

a) Bacillus megatherium b) Aspergillusflavus

c) Aspergillusfumigatus d) Penicillium digitatum

7. Nitrogen fixation is a process of conversion of gaseous form nitrogen (N2) into combined
forms i.e. ammonia or organic nitrogen by some bacteria cyanobacteria.

D25 The process of formation of ammonia from organic compound is known as D25:Ammonification
.

a) Ammonification b) Nitrification

c) Denitrification d) Proteolysis

D26 The microbial reduction of nitrate and nitrite with the liberation of molecular D26:Denitrification
. nitrogen and nitrous oxide is called as

a) Denitrification b) Ammonification

c) Mineralization d) Enzymatic hydrolysis

D27 Microorganism responsible for denitrification process D27:Thiobacillusdenit

. rificans

a) Fungi b) Actinomycetes

c) Thiobacillusdenitrificans d) Mold

D28 Bacteria responsible for oxidising nitrite to nitrate D28:Nitrobacter

.

a) Nitrosococcus b) Nitrobacter

c) Nitrosolobus d) Nitrosospira

8. The nitrogen fixing organisms are widely distributed in soils. Among them, Azotobacter
and Azospirillum are well known and exhaustively distributed in soils
D29 Associative symbiont with plant D29:Azospirillum
.

a) Azotobacter b) Rhizobium

c) Azospirillum d) Phosphobacteria

D30 Azospirillumis a D30:Microaerophilic

.

a) Microaerophilic b) Obligate anaerobes

c) Anaerobes d) Facultative anaerobes

D31 Which one is not Azospirillumsp D31:A.agilis

.

a) A.lipoferum b) A.oryzae

c) A.irakens d) A.agilis

D32 Azospirillum utilizes -----------------is a carbon source D32:Malic acid

.

a) Malic acid b) Glucose

c) Mannitol d) Fructose

9. the Rhizosphere soil microbial activity is manily depends upon the age of plant, soil
moisture, pH, temperature and soil type.

D33 Who coined the term Rhizosphere D33:Hiltner

.

a) Hiltner b) Jensen

c) Beijerinck d) Winogradsky

D34 The ratio of microbial population between Rhizosphere and non Rhizosphere soil D34: R:S ratio
. is referred as

a) R:S ratio b) C:P ratio

c) C:N ratio d) N:P ratio

D35 Which one is not Rhizosphere microorganism D35:Earthwrom

.

a) Bacteria b) Earthform

c) Fungi d) Actinomycetes

D36 The population and functional dynamics of soil microorganism differ from the D36: Rhizosphere
. Rhizosphere to non Rhizosphere zone due to the effect

a) Rhizosphere effect b) Non Rhizosphere effect

c) C:N ratio d) R:S ratio

10 . Soil contains organic matter due to addition of plant residues and dead animal tissues. Plant
residues contain various polysaccharides and are degraded by various groups of microorganism.

D37 Lignin degrading microorganism produce except this D37:β -Glucosidase

.

a) Peroxidase b) Catalase

c) Ligninase d) β -Glucosidase

D38 Cellulose is a polymer of D38: Glucose

.

a) Glucose b) Mannose

c) Xylose d) Arabinose

D39 Decomposition of organic matter is estimated except this D39: N2 evolution

.

a) CO2 evolution b) Weight loss in organic matter

c) Loss in organic matter d) N2 evolution

constituents

D40 Endogluconase hydrolyses D40:Inner region of

. cellulose

a) Inner region of cellulose b) Outer region of cellulose

c) Random of cellulose d) Inner and outer region