Researchers at the Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati University have discovered a bacteria that is capable of promoting plant growth and have named it ‘Pantoia tagori’ after Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore. Microbiologist Bomba Dam, assistant professor in the University’s Botany Department and leading the research, told PTI that bacteria have immense potential to revolutionize agricultural practices. “This is a plant growth-promoting bacteria that will prove to be a revolution in the agriculture sector,” Dam said in Shantiniketan in Birbhum district in West Bengal. It has shown immense potential to promote the cultivation of paddy, peas and chilli.” Daam was assisted in his research by Raju Biswas, Abhijit Mishra, Abhinav Chakraborty, Pooja Mukhopadhyay and Sandeep Ghosh. Dam said that his team isolated the bacteria from the soil of Sonajhuri, an area of ​​Shantiniketan.

“After this we discovered the bacteria in the coal mining belt of Jharia in Jharkhand,” he said. Dam said that ‘Pantoia tagori’ efficiently extracts potassium from the soil which enhances plant growth. “Bacteria found in the soil of Jharia coal mines solubilize potassium and phosphorus and fix nitrogen levels which helps in promoting plant growth,” he said. “Our analysis revealed that this is a new species of bacteria that is unique in nature,” Dam said. He said the bacteria would reduce the use of commercial fertilizers and ultimately help cut farming costs and boost crop yields. Dam said that the Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) has officially recognized the discovery. Their findings have also been published in the ‘Indian Journal of Microbiology’. When asked about the reason for naming it after Tagore, Dam mentioned Tagore’s visionary efforts regarding agriculture. He said, “This is the best way to honor the agricultural efforts of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and his son Ratindranath Tagore. Tagore sent his son to study agricultural science in Illinois, America.