Genetically modified seed combined with spore forming bacterium and optional insect control agents and methods for treating plants

Inventors

Riggs, Jennifer

Assignees

BASF Corp

Abstract

Products are provided that improve overall plant vigor and yield by combining agriculturally effective amounts of at least one spore-forming bacterium and at least one optional insect control agent to a genetically modified plant, plant part, or seed. This product is particularly effective in the presence of plant parasitic nematode and fungal species. Use of the product leads to an overall reduction in crop losses caused by either plant parasitic nematodes or fungi and this reduction is much greater than using genetically modified seed with just an insect control agent. According to some embodiments, the use of the product results in about a 2%-10% increase in soybean bushel yield, 3%-6.5% increase in cotton yield, and 3%-8% in corn bushel yield. Methods for utilizing and manufacturing the combination are also provided.

Core Innovation

The patent describes products and methods that combine a genetically modified seed with at least one spore-forming nematicidal bacterium and at least one non-nematicidal insect control agent. The nematicidal bacterium is Bacillus firmus from strain CNCM 1-1582, and the insect control agent is 1-(2-chloro-1,3-thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-2-nitroguanidine (clothianidin).

The genetically modified seed is selected from cotton, soybean, corn, wheat, or sorghum and is transformed with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis. The genetically modified seed is insect tolerant, glyphosate tolerant, or a combination thereof, and the product results in increased yield of the specified crops when grown under nematode pressure compared to a genetically modified seed treated with clothianidin.

The claims specify quantitative composition ranges for Bacillus firmus and clothianidin, including about 1% by weight to 20% by weight for Bacillus firmus and about 30% by weight to 50% by weight for clothianidin, together with additional ranges for clothianidin concentration and Bacillus firmus concentration. The document further describes applying the components to the seed, plant, or plant part to protect from damage resulting from infestation by nematodes, and manufacturing treated genetically modified seeds by applying the bacteria and insect control agent and mixing to achieve a substantially uniform treatment.

Claims Coverage

The document provides four independent claims that cover a product composition, a method of protecting genetically modified seeds/plants/plant parts from nematode damage, a composition including a solvent, and a method of manufacturing treated genetically modified seeds. Each independent claim includes Bacillus firmus from strain CNCM 1-1582 and clothianidin, with seeds transformed with a Bacillus thuringiensis gene and, in the product claim, a yield increase under nematode pressure.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is directed to formulations and protective or manufacturing aspects that use Bacillus firmus CNCM 1-1582 together with clothianidin, where the genetically modified cotton, soybean, corn, wheat, or sorghum seed is transformed with a Bacillus thuringiensis gene and is insect tolerant and/or glyphosate tolerant.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications