Q. What is 'Methylocucumis oryzae', recently seen in news?
Answer:
Bacteria
Notes: Researchers have isolated India’s first indigenous methanotroph, Methylocucumis oryzae, from rice fields and wetlands in Western India. This cucumber-shaped bacterium, abundant in wetlands and rice fields, is important for methane consumption. It is larger than most bacteria and grows only below 37ºC. Methylocucumis promotes rice plant growth by inducing early flowering and increasing grain yield, though its slow growth limits large-scale applications.