Pantoea Tagorei: Scientists discover plant growth-promoting bacteria, names it after Rabindranath Tagore

Researchers from Visva-Bharati University's botany department have identified a bacteria with remarkable potential to enhance plant growth. Named 'Pantoea Tagorei' in homage to Nobel laureate , the bacteria could revolutionise agricultural practices, said microbiologist Bomba Dam, who led the research.

"This plant growth-promoting bacteria will prove to be a game-changer in agriculture. It has shown immense capability to boost the cultivation of paddy, pea, and chilli," Dam said.

Dam was assisted by research scholars Raju Biswas, Abhijit Mishra, Abhinav Chakraborty, Pooja Mukhopadhyay and Sandeep Ghosh. The team isolated the bacteria from the soil of Sonajhuri in Santiniketan and then discovered the same in the coal mining belt in Jharkhand's Jharia.

Elaborating on the characteristics of the bacteria, Dam said, "Pantoea Tagorei efficiently extracts potassium from soil which enhances plant growth. Those found in the soil of Jharia coal mines solubilises potassium and phosphorus and fixes nitrogen which help promote plant growth. Our analysis showed that it was a new species and unique."

The Association of Microbiologists of India has officially recognised this discovery. The findings were also published in the Indian Journal of Microbiology.

Inputs from PTI