Azotobacter

Azotobacter - genus of bacteria living in soil and capable as a result of azotfiksatsii convert gaseous nitrogen into soluble form, is available for assimilation by plants.

Genus azotobakter belongs to gram-negative bacteria and belongs to a group of so-called free azotfiksatorov. Representatives of the genus occur in neutral and alkaline soils, the water and in association with some plants. Form a special resting shape - cysts.

Plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle in nature, linking unobtainable plants, atmospheric nitrogen and extracting nitrogen bound in the form of ammonium ions in the soil. Used by man for the production of nitrogen biofertilizers, a producer of some biopolymers.

The first representative of the genus, Azotobacter chroococcum, was discovered and described in 1901 by Dutch microbiologists and botanists Martin Beyerinkom. At this point in the genus includes six species.