Microbiology About Department

This Microbiology unit of the Department of Biology had its origin in 1971 and grown as Department of Agricultural Microbiology during 1979. Since inception the department is concentrating on teaching, research and extension activities. The priority research areas are biological nitrogen fixation, waste recycling, food microbiology, industrial microbiology, microbial genetics and mass production and quality control of bioinoculants. Master’s and doctoral programmes in Agricultural Microbiology was started in 1979 and so far 252 M.Sc.(Ag.) and 95 Ph.D. students have graduated. The faculties of the department are well recognized in various national and international scientific bodies and their findings have been patented. The department was recognized as Centre for Advanced Studies in Agricultural Microbiology by UNDP/ FAO/ ICAR during 1979 to 1986 and 1995 till date. In XI plan also, ICAR has continued the recognition of this department as centre of Advanced Faculty Training in Agricultural Microbiology. The department has released novel strains of biofertilizers for various crops and soils and is pioneer in deducing novel strains for K, Zn and Mn solubilization and hence is recognized as Nodal agency for bioinoculants in Tamil Nadu and authorized for quality check of agricultural bioinoculants. The recent research focus of the department is in the areas of bioprocessing, fermentation of vegetables, climate change impact on microbial diversity and biofuels.

• Microbial inoculants for enhanced availability of nutrients
• Development of antimicrobial compounds from microbial sources
• Bioconversion of organic wastes, Biofuels and bioremediation
• Microbial processes for value addition

• Offering structured degree programmes in Agricultural Microbiology.
• To develop technologies on biofertilizers for agriculture, horticulture and forestry
• To develop scientific man power for development of Agricultural Microbiology
• To provide periodical training on biofertilizers for Institutions and Government organizations
• To provide analytical and advisory services on biofertilizers
• To develop strategies for bioprospecting of microorganisms

• Development of Biofertilizer technologies for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry
• Establishment of culture collection centre for biofertilizers at National level

The Department of Agrl. Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is working on Biofertilizer research for the past 30 years and identifying new effective strains, new formulations, newer organisms as biofertilizer are in progress. The department has a separate well-equipped Biofertilizer Production and Quality Control unit, which serve as nodal agency for maintaining the quality control of Biofertilizers at state level. Following are some of the mile-stones of biofertilizer research by TNAU.

• Soil and crop specific bioinoculants for major nutrients
• Plant growth promoting phyllosphere inoculants
• First commercial formulation of bioinoculants
• Developed the quality control standards for bioinoculants
• Microbial consortia and mixed bioinoculants
• Multifaceted beneficial strains as bioinoculants
• Liquid formulation of bioinoculants with longer shelf life
• PPFM inoculant for drought mitigation in rice
• Molecular markers for strain authentication
• Bioinoculants for micronutrients
• Simple commercial production technique for mycorrhizal bioinoculant
• Distribution of quality strains of bioinoculants to government and private bioinoculant production agencies
• Quality certification for commercial inoculants
• Imparting hands on trainings to the entrepreneurs for quality inoculants production