Question:

Which of the following is/are the example of nitrifying bacteria?

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Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia $\rightarrow$ nitrite $\rightarrow$ nitrate in soil nitrogen cycle.
  • Nitrosomonas
  • Nitrobacter
  • Nitrospira
  • Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Nitrospira
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The Correct Option is D

Approach Solution - 1

All three — Nitrosomonas (ammonia to nitrite), Nitrobacter (nitrite to nitrate), and Nitrospira (complete nitrification) — are involved in the nitrification process in soil.
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Approach Solution -2

Alternate approach — Two-step nitrification pathway:
Nitrification occurs in two sequential microbial steps. In the first step, ammonia-oxidising bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, and Nitrosomonas performs this step. In the second step, nitrite-oxidising bacteria convert nitrite to nitrate, and both Nitrobacter and Nitrospira carry out this conversion, with Nitrospira now known to dominate in many soils. Since the question asks which organisms are examples of nitrifying bacteria in general, not restricted to one step, any organism participating in either stage qualifies.
As Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, and Nitrospira are each responsible for a stage of the ammonia-to-nitrate pathway, all three are correctly classified as nitrifying bacteria, confirming the option listing all three.
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