Nutrient plant formulation with microbial strains

Details Nutrient plant formulation with microbial strains Nutrient plant formulation with microbial strains

1998-12-11

2001-02-27

Lankford, Jr., Leon B. (Department: 1651)

Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology

Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...

Bacteria or actinomycetales; media therefor

C047S05810R, C435S252500, C435S431000, C504S117000, C504S118000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06194193

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a formulation for promoting plant growth and health, and more specifically to a liquid formulation which contains a novel blend of Bacillus strains and nutrients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, a high level of inorganic fertilizers have been added to turf, vegetables, ornamentals and row crops to improve their growth or yield potential. Often this has resulted in more stress on plants under environmental stress (drought, physical damage) and greater susceptibility to disease. Moreover, the majority of fertilizer components, particularly nitrogen, is not utilized by the intended plants, and is lost by leaching or conversion to less desirable forms (nitrate and nitrite). Excessive leaching is now recognized as a major contributing factor to algae blooms (with subsequent pollution and loss of fish and other wildlife).
It has been recognized that plants seek to function in a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship with the natural microbial strains present in soil. Indeed, as much as 25% of the total food (carbonaceous material) produced by a plant during seasonal growth is release from the roots, very likely to feed and maintain beneficial soil microbes. In turn, these microorganisms, both bacteria and certain beneficial fungi (i.e. mychorrhizae) provide the plant with specific metabolites and micronutrients that significantly aid overall plant health and development.
Certain of these microbial metabolites have been identified as precursors to natural phytohormones which plants synthesize and use at key times in their growth cycle, or during times of stress and infection. Some of these precursors, referred to as plant growth regulators (PGR), have been applied directly to plants to encourage growth at desired times. However, we have realized that some bacteria produce specific natural phytohormone precursors (e.g. indole-3-ethanol; TOL) and are well-adapted to grow on (colonize) plant roots. These strains subsequently provide the plant with these metabolites in a way far better than relying on exogenous application of the synthetic chemical precursors alone. This is due to the fact that root-colonizing beneficial bacteria respond in a feedback relationship to the overall levels of plant root exudate, growing and producing more phytohormone precursors at just the right times and amounts for the plants to use the material most effectively. From beneficial strains, these precursors are usually non-toxic, readily available (taken up by the roots) and can be stored by the plant for future rapid response at key times of development or stress.
Other microbial strains have been isolated which demonstrate the ability to produce several anti-fungal metabolites. These natural antibiotics specifically deter the development of pathogenic plant fungal organisms. These strains, which also produce TOL, have been included in the formulation described, to provide a further natural (non-chemical) assistance to the plant in resisting common disease-causing fungi. Another microbial organism (
Paenibacillus azotofixans
) isolated from grass roots for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into plant-usable substrates, was also included in the formulation to augment available nutrients in the immediate root area.
Importantly, it has been determined that the optimal benefits are achieved through a combination of such selected phytohormone (precursor) producing soil bacteria, antibiotic producing strains, and free-living nitrogen-fixing isolates, along with certain nutrients and micronutrients in specific empirically-determined levels. Such a formula provides surprisingly effective conditions to achieve optimal plant vigor and stress tolerance for a relatively broad array of agronomically important plants and crops. In the past, other products have been developed and sold which included some of these elements separately, such as PGR-containing solutions (e.g. Regal®), beneficial microbial strains alone (e.g. Dagger-G®); standard inorganic fertilizers (e.g. Miracle Gro®, Turf Builder®). We have found by direct comparison on a variety of plant types that the unique combination of the selected bacterial strains, phytohormone-precursors, and nutrients is far more effective in improving plant vigor and final yield potential.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel liquid formulation which enhances plant growth and provides resistance to fungus and other common plant diseases. The invention utilizes a novel blend of a plurality of bacillus strains which in combination with a blend of selected nutrients and micronutrients provides a unique synergism in the enhancement of plant growth and health.
There are several ways by which the liquid formulation of the present invention, hereinafter designated 710-L, is acting to potentiate growth, including: i) Microbial input of non-toxic phytohormones (e.g. indole-3-ethanol; TOL); ii) Inhibition of deleterious fungal organisms through the production or anti-fungal antibiotics (e.g. zwittermicin; kumamycin) and hydrolytic enzymes (e.g. xylanase; cellulase; protease; chitinase); iii) Nitrogen fixation by free-living, root-associated bacteria (e.g.
Paenibacillus azotofixans
); iv) Synergy of plant beneficial microorganisms with nutrients and micronutrients, particularly low levels of purified phytohormones and phytohormone precursors. The patent describes the unique combination of these modes of action to provide a complementary, and occasionally synergistic benefit for plant growth, particularly under higher stress conditions such a nutrient deficiency, low moisture, and physical damage.
Microbial-produced Phytohormones
The body of evidence is strong that specific microbial-produced phytohormones are taken up and stored by the plant, and are later used at key times in plant development for more efficient nutrient utilization and stress tolerance. In particular, indole-3-ethanol (TOL; tryptophenol) and indole-3-acetic acid production by root-associated bacterial strains are believed to be especially beneficial to plant growth promotion See the literature as evidenced by: Lebuhn, M., Heulin, T., and Hartmann, A. (1997) Production of auxin and other indolic and phenolic compounds by
Paenibacillus polymyxa
strains isolated from different proximity to plant roots. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 22: 325-334.), Sandberg, G. (1984). Biosynthesis and metabolism of indole-3-ethanol and indole-3-acetic acid by
Pinus sylvestirs L
. needles. Planta 161:398-403.), Lebuhn, M, and Hartmann, A. (1996) Indolic and phenolic compounds. Auxins, L-tryptophan and related indolic and phenolic catabolites. In:
Methods in Soil Biology
(Schinner, F. Ohlinger, R., Kandeler, E. and Margesin, R., Eds.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 266-280), Martin, P., Glatzle, A., Kolb, W., Omay, H., Schmidt, W. (1989) N2-fixing bacteria in the rhizosphere: Quantification and hormonal effects on root development. Z Pflanzenemaehr Bodenkd 152: 237-245.), and Muller, M., Deigele, C., Ziegler, H. (1989) Hormonal interactions in the rhizosphere of maize (
Zea mays L
.) and their effects on plant development. Z Pflanzenernaehr Bodenkd 152: 247-254.) The lipolytic nature of TOL allows for rapid root uptake and efficient storage without concomitant toxicity often associated with indole acetic acid (IAA; See Sandberg publication above). Many of the strains in the BiChem® 710-L and BiChem® 710-GN have been selected for, or found capable of producing TOL as well as other indole-like derivatives. This was demonstrated as described in Example IV, below. Strains that produce IAA itself have been purposefully excluded from the formulation largely due to the association of IAA with plant-pathogenic bacteria, and potential deleterious effects on plant development. (See Brandl, M. T., and Lindow, S. E. (1998) Contribution of indole-3-acetic acid production to the epiphytic fitness of
Erwinia herbicola
. Appl. Env. Mirobiol. 64:3256-3263).
Inhibition of Deleterious Fungi
Soil-borne and foliar pathogenic fungi provide a strong

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