Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Nitrobacter

Nitrobacter

9.1
A small soil bacterium that turns nitrite into nitrate to help plants in the nitrogen cycle
  • noun
  • /ˈnaɪtroʊˌbæktər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nitrobacter
  • Species such as Nitrobacter are important bacteria in the soil that convert harmful nitrites into useful nitrates.

Examples

  • Farmers rely on Nitrobacter to help improve soil quality by promoting the nitrogen cycle.

  • Species such as Enterobacteria, Serratia, Nitrobacter, Pseudomonads, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and various Actinomycetes are all present.

    Academic text (1996)

  • In the ecosystem, Nitrobacter play a crucial role by facilitating the conversion of nitrites to nitrates.

Synonyms

nitrate bacterium
vsNitrobacter
  • Specialized
7.0

A bacterium that turns nitrite into nitrate in soil

is a specific genus of rod-shaped soil bacteria rather than a general type
nitric bacterium
vsNitrobacter
  • Specialized
7.7

A bacterium that turns nitrite into nitrate to help plants get nitrogen

has the narrow identity of a named rod-shaped genus, not a general label
nitrobacteria
vsNitrobacter
  • Specialized
9.9

Bacteria in soil that change nitrites into nitrates for plants to use

is a particular rod-shaped genus rather than the broader group term
nitric bacteria
vsNitrobacter
  • Specialized
6.6

Bacteria in soil that change nitrites into nitrates and help plants grow

names a distinct genus of rod-shaped soil bacteria, not the general group
nitrobacterium
vsNitrobacter
  • Specialized
8.8

A soil bacterium that changes ammonia into forms plants can use

focuses specifically on converting nitrites to nitrates, not oxidizing ammonium

Surface Forms

Nitrobacter singular
Nitrobacters plural

Morphology

Nitrobacter = nitro + bacter (semi-transparent) = nitro + bacter

Formally composed of 'nitro' (nitrogen-related) + 'bacter' (bacterium), but as a Latinized scientific genus name it is specialized and may not be obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Nitrobacter joins nitro- meaning 'nitrogen' and bacter meaning 'rod' or 'bacteria', so it is a rod-shaped bacterium that turns nitrite into nitrate in the soil.