On the basis of cell wall

 Gram +ve bacteria

• Thick cell wall
• In Gram stain test, give +ve result
• Stains the cell wall purple

 Gram –ve bacteria

• Thin cell wall
• In Gram stain test, give –ve result
• Stains the cell wall pink
On the basis of nutrition
Types of heterotrophs
 Saprotrophic bacteria
• Obtain their food from dead and decaying matter i.e
decomposers
• Have own enzyme system
 Parasitic bacteria
• Lack own enzyme system
• Depends upon enzymes of host (living) for food
• Pathogens
 Symbiotic bacteria
• Symbiotic relationship with host
On the basis of flagella
Economic importance of bacteria
In rhizosphere: The region where soil and roots make
contact is called rhizosphere.
• Bacterial population is higher on and arround roots
• Bacterial growth is enhanced due to nutrients
released from plants
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation
• The nodules are swellings in the roots.
• Have nitrogen fixing bacteria
• Present in Leguminosae family
• Bacteria provide fixed nitrogen and plants provide
bacteria with carbohydrates & org. compounds
In Nitrogen Cycling:
• Plants require N for synthesis of prot., nucleic acid
and other org. compds.
• Plants are unable to absorb gaseous N2 .
• Converted to NH4 or NO3 . Called nitrogen fixation.
Nitrogen fixing Bacteria
• Fix nitrogen
• Live free or associated with roots
Non-symbiotic: Live freely e.g. Clostridium,
Azotobacter
Symbiotic: live in roots e.g. Rhizobium
Decomposition & Recycling
Humification: Saprophytic bacteria along with fungi
decompose dead org. matter, form partially
decomposed org. matter called humus.
• Taken up by plants again to build org. compds.
Called nutrient recycling.
In Biotechnology
Application of organisms such as bacteria, fungi and
algae to the manufacturing and service industries.
• Fermentation: brewing, baking, cheese, butter,
ethanol, acetone, org. acids, enzymes, perfumes
• Pharmaceuticals: Antibiotics, vaccines, steroids
• Vitamin synthesis: used in synthesis of vit B in
humans( E.coli)
• Commercial preparation of riboflavin
• Waste disposal: Aerobic & anaerobic bacteria are
used to decompose sewage wastes.

Harmful bacteria
• Pathogens: disease causing organisms more in
animals than plants
• Plant diseases: 200 bacteria cause diseases. e.g.
crown galls of fruit trees, fire blight of apples &
pears, citrus canker, leaf blight of rice
• Biogas: Energy in the form of biogas
• Food products: beverages, dairy products
• Organic compounds: Proteins, aminoacids
• Agriculture Industry: animal feed, pesticides,
nitrogen fixation, tissue culture
• Microbial mining: copper extraction
• Genetic Engineering: commercially important
products e.g. insulin
• Fiber Retting: used to separate fibers of jute, flax
and hemp used in making ropes and sacks
• Digestion: Live in guts of animals, secrete cellulase
that help in digestion of cell wall & give energy
• Animal diseasas: food poisoning of poultry, black
leg.
• Human disease: Penumonia, wound infections,
stomach trouble, food poisioning, typhoid
• Food spoilage: Saprophytic bacteria decompose
org. matter, causes spoilage of grains, meat, fish,
vegetables, fruits and milk