Visva-Bharati university names new species of ‘good’ bacteria after Rabindranath Tagore

A team of researchers from Visva-Bharati discovered a new species of bacteria, Pantoea Tagorei, named after Rabindranath Tagore. The bacteria promotes plant growth and has properties to solubilize potassium, replenish nitrogen, and solubilize phosphorus. The researchers found the bacteria in the soil of the Jharia coal mines. Their findings were published in the Indian Journal of Microbiology. The team has also successfully experimented with giving the bacteria to farmers, who are pleased with the results. The new acting VC of Visva-Bharati, Sanjoy Kumar Mallik, praised the team's work, noting its deep impact on agriculture.