Tag: biogeochemical cycles - gaseous

Questions Related to biogeochemical cycles - gaseous

Which of the following is a free living aerobic non - photosynthetic nitrogen-fixer ?

  1. $Rhizobium$

  2. $Azotobacter$

  3. $Azospirillum$

  4. $Nostoc$


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Azotobacter is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium, which is used as a biofertilizer in the cultivation of most crops. Azotobacter respires aerobically, receiving energy from redox reactions, using organic compounds as electron donors. Azotobacter can use a variety of carbohydrates, alcohols, and salts of organic acids as sources of carbon. 

Rhizobium fixes nitrogen by symbiotic association. Nostoc is photosynthetic. Azospirillum is anaerobic. 
So, the correct option is 'Azotobacter'.

All of the following statements concerning the actinomycetous filamentous soil bacterium Frankia are correct except that Frankia

  1. Can induce root nodules on many plant species

  2. Can fix nitrogen in the free-living state

  3. Like Rhizobium, it usually infects its host plant through root hair deformation and stimulates cell proliferation in the host's cortex

  4. Forms specialized vesicles in which the nitrogenase is protected from oxygen by a chemical barrier involving triterpene hopanoids


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Frankia is a bacterium which grows in a symbiotic association with the roots of non-leguminous plants.  It can fix atmospheric nitrogen. It cannot fix nitrogen in free-living state.

So, the correct option is 'Can fix nitrogen in free-living state'.

Bacteria involved in two-step conversion ammonia into nitrate are

  1. Azotobacter and Nitrosomonas

  2. Pseudomonas and Nitrobacter

  3. Azotobacter and Achromobacter

  4. Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Nitrification is a process of conversion of ammonium ions to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates. It is a two-step process. The bacteria that carry out this process are called as nitrifying bacteria. Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, Nitrosococcus convert ammonia into nitrites. Nitrobacter, Nitrospina, Nitrococcus convert nitrites into nitrates.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter.' 

Which of the following is a symbiotic nitrogen fixer?

  1. Frankia

  2. Anabaena azollae

  3. Glomus

  4. Both A and B


Correct Option: D

Which gene cluster is responsible for nitrogen fixation in bacteria?

  1. Nod, Nif, Nfx

  2. Nod, Nif, Fix

  3. Nod, Ndf, Nfx

  4. Ndx, Nif, Fix

  5. Ndx, Nif, nix


Correct Option: B
Explanation:
Nitrogen fixation is a process by which nitrogen present in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia. It is essential to life because fixed inorganic nitrogen compounds are required for the biosynthesis of all nitrogen-containing compounds. This process is done with the help of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that have Nod, Nif and Fix gene clusters responsible for nitrogen fixation.
So the correct answer is 'Nod, Nif, Fix'.

Match the columns and choose the correct option.

I II
(a) Free-living aerobic nitrogen fixers 1. Anabaena and Nostoc
(b) Anaerobic nitrogen fixers 2. Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus
(c) Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria 3. Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus
(d) Denitrifying bacteria 4. Azotobacter and Beijerinckia
(e) Nitrifying bacteria 5. Rhodospirillum
  1. a - 4, b - 5, c - 1, d - 2, e - 3 

  2. a - 5, b - 4, c - 1, d - 3, e - 2

  3. a - 4, b - 5, c - 2, d - 3, e - 1

  4. a - 4, b - 3, c - 1, d - 2, e - 5

  5. a - 4, b - 5, c - 3, d - 2, e - 1


Correct Option: A
Explanation:
a) Free-living aerobic nitrogen fixers - Azotobacter and Beijernikia
b) Anaerobic nitrogen fixers - Rhodospirillum
c) Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria - Anabaena and Nostoc
d) Denitrifying bacteria - Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus
e) Nitrifying bacteria - Nitrosomonas and Nitosococcus
So the correct answer is 'a-4, b-5, c-1, d-2, e-3'

Which one helps in absorption of phosphorus from soil by plants?

  1. Frankia

  2. Anabaena

  3. Glomus

  4. Rhizobium


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Frankia, Anabaena and Rhizobium are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that absorbs nitrogen from the soil. Glomus is a myccorhizal fungi. The fungal symbiont in these associations absorbs phosphorus from soil and passes it to the plant.
Thus, the correct answer is option (C). 

Which of the following is the function of nitrifying bacteria?

  1. Oxidise $NH _3$ to $NO^- _3$

  2. Oxidise $NH _3$ to $NH^+ _4$

  3. Convert $NO^- _3$ to $NH _3$

  4. Convert $NO^- _3$ to $N _2$


Correct Option: A
Explanation:
Nitrifying bacteria is an aerobic bacteria that use inorganic chemicals as an energy source. They are important in the nitrogen cycle as converters of soil ammonia to nitrates by the process of oxidation.
So the correct answer is 'oxidise NH$ _3$ to NO$ _3$-'.