Agricultural compositions comprising remodeled nitrogen fixing microbes
Inventors
REISINGER, MARK • SANDERS, ERNEST • BROGLIE, RICHARD • Temme, Karsten
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12471599-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides non-intergeneric remodeled microbes that are able to fix atmospheric 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 relates to an agricultural composition comprising a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria that produce fixed N and are configured for delivery to non-leguminous crops. The composition comprises at least one pesticide selected from insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, fungicides, chemosterilants, herbicides, and combinations thereof, and the bacteria are defined by performance thresholds for fixed N production and average colonization ability per unit of plant root tissue.
The non-intergeneric engineering concept is used to avoid intergeneric remodeling, and the bacteria are described as capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen and providing fixed N to plant roots. The disclosure also identifies nitrogen-fixation and nitrogen-assimilation genetic regulatory network remodeling involving nif genes and regulators such as NifL/NifA, GlnD/GlnB/GlnK, as well as targets such as AmtB, DraT, and GlnE domains.
The broader description further includes Guided Microbial Remodeling (GMR), seed treatment compositions, microbial identification using SEQ ID-defined sequences and non-native junctions, and performance characterization including ammonium excretion phenotypes, in vitro, in planta, and field performance, and a 15N dilution greenhouse study.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim requires an agricultural composition including non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria that meet fixed N production and plant root colonization thresholds, in combination with at least one selected pesticide from extensive predefined pesticide groups. In total, three inventive features anchor the coverage.
Agricultural composition combining bacteria with a selected pesticide class
An agricultural composition comprising a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and at least one pesticide selected from insecticides, acaricides, chemosterilants, nematicides, fungicides, herbicides, and combinations thereof.
Non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria producing fixed N at a minimum rate
The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria produce fixed N at least about 1×10^-17 mmol N per bacterial cell per hour, with broader stated ranges also present in the inputs.
Non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria with minimum average root colonization ability
The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria have an average colonization ability per unit of plant root tissue of at least about 1.0×10^4 bacterial cells per gram of fresh weight of plant root tissue.
The independent claim is directed to an agricultural composition that integrates non-intergeneric remodeled nitrogen-fixing bacteria with extensive pesticide options, while requiring defined fixed N production and plant root colonization ability thresholds.
Stated Advantages
Enables an agricultural composition where the non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria produce fixed N and colonize plant root tissue above defined minimum thresholds while being combined with at least one selected pesticide.
Reduces reliance on Haber-Bosch nitrogen fertilizer by delivering fixed N through atmospheric nitrogen fixation.
Avoids intergeneric remodeling, reducing regulatory burden.
Documented Applications
Nitrogen-fixation-enabled crop applications supported by Guided Microbial Remodeling (GMR), including nitrogen fixation and ammonium excretion phenotypes and performance characterization described as in vitro, in planta, and field performance, including a 15N dilution greenhouse study.
Seed treatment compositions for non-leguminous crops using the non-intergeneric remodeled nitrogen-fixing bacteria in combination with selected pesticides.
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