Agricultural compositions comprising remodeled nitrogen fixing microbes

Inventors

REISINGER, MARK • SANDERS, ERNEST • BROGLIE, RICHARD • Temme, Karsten

Assignees

Pivot Bio Inc

Abstract

The present disclosure provides non-intergeneric remodeled microbes that are able to fix atmostpheric nitrogen and deliver such to plants in a targeted, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner. The utilization of the taught microbial products will enable farmers to realize more productive and predictable crop yields without the nutrient degradation, leaching, or toxic runoff associated with traditional synthetically derived nitrogen fertilizer. The remodeled microbes taught herein are able to be combined with leading agricultural chemistry and elite germplasm. Furthermore, the disclosure provides seed treatments comprising remodeled microbes.

Core Innovation

The invention provides seed treatment compositions that include a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria together with at least one agricultural compound. The agricultural compound includes a strigolactone compound or mimic thereof and/or at least one compound of Formula (1), including salts, solvates, and isomers thereof, and Formula (1) is defined by specific heteroatom options and substituent definitions. The bacteria are remodeled so that they carry genetic variation in nitrogen fixation or nitrogen assimilation genetic regulatory genes and related components.

The invention addresses a nitrogen-related performance problem by configuring the non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria to produce fixed nitrogen and to establish measurable colonization on plant root tissue. The genetic variation is directed to nitrogen fixation and nitrogen assimilation regulatory network genes selected from nifA, nifL, ntrB, ntrC, glnA, glnB, glnK, drat, amtB, glnD, glnE, nifJ, nifH, nifD, nifK, nifY, nifE, nifU, nifS, nifV, nifW, nifZ, nifM, nifF, nifB, nifQ, and genes associated with biosynthesis of a nitrogenase enzyme. In some embodiments, the compositions further include corn seed, including genetically modified corn seed having a herbicide tolerance trait and/or an insect resistance trait.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims cover four related compositions. Across them, the inventive coverage centers on non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria, nitrogen fixation and nitrogen assimilation genetic variations, fixed nitrogen production and root colonization performance in some embodiments, and co-formulated agricultural compounds comprising a strigolactone compound or mimic thereof and/or a compound of Formula (1), with corn seed embodiments included.

The core inventive subject matter is a composition centered on non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria paired with a strigolactone compound or mimic thereof and/or a compound of Formula (1). The claim coverage further emphasizes nitrogen pathway genetic variation in selected nitrogen fixation and nitrogen assimilation genes, and in one independent claim, fixed nitrogen production and root colonization ability.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications