Question

Curing of tobacco is done by
A. Micrococcus candicans
B. Bacillus subtilis
C. Bacillus megaterium
D. Bacillus ramosus

Answer 1

Hint: The tobacco plants are cultivated annually. It grows in warm climatic conditions with well-drained soil. After the harvesting of tobacco, it is essential to cure it. The raw uncured tobacco leaves are too wet to be smoked or ignited. One of the biggest known spore-producing bacteria is used in the curing of tobacco.

Complete answer:Tobacco plants are cultivated for their large leaves and are harvested annually. The tobacco plant needs to be processed and cured before use. The raw fresh leaves of tobacco are unfit to be ignited. Thus, they need to be processed to be smoked. Curing allows for slow oxidation and degradation of the carotenoids present in tobacco leaves. The tobacco is cured by Bacillus megaterium. It is one of the largest known gram-positive bacteria which are spore-producing rod-shaped bacteria. They are present in pairs and chains.
Treatment with this bacterium gives tobacco leaves its sweet hay, rose oil, tea, or fruity aromatic taste. Also, curing contributes to the smoothness of the consumed product. Non-cured tobacco is artificially flavored with naturally occurring compounds. After curing the tobacco plants they are moved into the storage area for further processing. Curing of tobacco can be done by other subsequent methods like air-curing, fire-curing, sun-curing, fermentation, etc. Tobacco curing is also called color curing. It is because after curing the tobacco leaves change their color and the chlorophyll content is reduced.

So, the correct answer is option C.

Note: Bacillus megaterium proliferates well at a temperature of C. They are essential agents used in the biocontrol of plant diseases. Some of its species are known to show nitrogen fixation activity. It also produces penicillin amidase. It is used in the production of synthetic penicillin and several enzymes.