User:Adria Lwin/sandbox

General microbiology
Methylotrophs are a diverse group, including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive genera. None of them make resting structures like exospores or cysts and none of them have the complex intracellular membrane systems that characterize methanotrophs growing on methane

There are two sub groups:
 * 1) obligate methylotrophs.
 * 2) facultative methylotrophs.

Obligate methylotrophs
A single obligate methylotroph (methylophilus) is known. It is Gram-negative, polarly flagellated rod capable of rapid growth with methanol. Some strains can also utilize formaldehyde or methylamines. Carbon is assimilated via the ribulose mono phosphate pathway.

Facultative methylotrophs
It is relatively widely distributed trait among heterotrophic bacteria. It may also be common among chemoautotrophs: several thiobacilli and nitrifying bacteria can drive CO2 assimilation via the Calvin-Benson cycle by formate oxidation.

Environmental Impact
As key players in the carbon cycle, methylotrophs work to reduce global warming primarily through the uptake of methane and other greenhouse gases. In aqueous environments, methanogenic bacteria produce 40-50% of the world's methane. Symbiosis between methanogens and methanotrophic bacteria greatly decreases the amount of methane released into the atmosphere.

Traditional chemical fertilizers, while needed to supply nutrients not readily available from soil, have negative effects on both humans and the environment, such as decreased crop yield, poor soil quality and plant diseases. In addition to reducing the environmental cost of producing chemical fertilizers, methylotrophs have high potential as alternative biofertilizers and bioinoculants. They form mutualistic relationships with several plant species, promoting their growth through production of plant hormones and supporting nutrient uptake. Methylotrophs also provide plants with nutrients such as soluble phosphorous and fixed nitrogen. Methylotrophic biofertilizers used either alone or together with chemical fertilizers have been shown to increase not only crop yield but crop quality as well. --Adria Lwin (talk) 06:59, 9 October 2017 (UTC)

Environmental Implications
As key players in the carbon cycle, methylotrophs work to reduce global warming primarily through the uptake of methane and other greenhouse gases. In aqueous environments, methanogenic bacteria produce 40-50% of the world's methane. Symbiosis between methanogens and methanotrophic bacteria greatly decreases the amount of methane released into the atmosphere.

The use of methylotrophs in the agricultural sector is another way in which they can potentially impact the environment. Traditional chemical fertilizers supply nutrients not readily available from soil but have effects such as decreased crop yield, poor soil quality and plant diseases. They are also environmentally costly to produce. Methylotrophs have high potential as alternative biofertilizers and bioinoculants due to their ability form mutualistic relationships with several plant species. Methylotrophs provide plants with nutrients such as soluble phosphorous and fixed nitrogen and also play a role in the uptake of said nutrients. Additionally, they can help plants respond to environmental stressors through the production of phytohormones. Finally, methylotrophic growth inhibits the growth of harmful plant pathogens and induces systemic resistance. Methylotrophic biofertilizers used either alone or together with chemical fertilizers have been shown to increase both crop yield and quality without loss of nutrients.