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Can a Single Bacterium Save Our Crops? Dive into the world of Bacillus thuringiensis and find out how it's transforming agriculture with eco-friendly solutions.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is typically gram-positive, which means it retains the crystal violet stain during the Gram staining process. As a result, Bt appears purple under a microscope after Gram staining.
When grown on an agar plate, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) colonies are typically off-white or cream-colored. They may also appear translucent or opalescent, especially when viewed under certain lighting conditions
Agricultural soil is a complex ecosystem where microorganisms play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, plant health, and pest control.
Classification: Bacteria; Phylum: Firmicutes; Class: Bacilli; Order: Bacillales; Family: Bacillaceae; Genus: Bacillus; Species: thuringiensis
Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. Produces crystal (Cry) proteins during sporulation that are toxic to specific insect orders (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera). The Cry proteins are ingested by insects, causing paralysis and death. It makes it useful as a pesticide
Interaction with Other Microbes: Bt interacts with other soil microbes, potentially affecting nutrient cycling and soil health. It can influence the composition of microbial communities by competing for resources or producing substances that inhibit other bacteria.
This article explains how cry toxins interact with insect midgut proteins to form pores, leading to cell lysis and insect death.
