Agricultural compositions comprising remodeled nitrogen fixing microbes
Inventors
REISINGER, MARK • SANDERS, ERNEST • BROGLIE, RICHARD • Temme, Karsten
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12610956-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-28
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 a composition comprising a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and a nutrient selected from a non-pressure nitrogen solution, aqua ammonia, ammonium thiosulfate, sulfur-coated urea, a urea-formaldehyde, isobutylidene diurea (IBDU), polymer-coated urea, methylene urea, ammonium polyphosphate, concentrated superphosphate, triple superphosphate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium-magnesium sulfate, and any combination thereof. The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria produce fixed N at at least about 1×10^-17 mmol N per bacterial cell per hour when provided with the selected nutrient.
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 disclosure connects this colonization criterion with nitrogen fixation performance and intended interaction with plant root tissue.
The remodeled bacteria are defined by introduced genetic variations in nitrogen fixation or assimilation gene targets and related regulatory components, including nifA, nifL, ntrB, ntrC, nitrogenase and glutamine/glutaminase-related genes such as glnA, glnB, glnK, draT, amtB, and non-coding polynucleotides associated with a nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network. The disclosed embodiments further specify remodeling of regulator/promoter elements such as PinfC and Prm variants, remodeling of glnE including truncations deleting the adenylyl-removing AR domain, and remodeling of amtB.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include one independent claim. The coverage centers on a composition of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria plus a specified nutrient list, with quantitative fixed-N production and plant root colonization thresholds, and dependent refinements that narrow genetic targets and bacterial classification.
Composition with nitrogen-fixing non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and defined nutrient selection
A composition comprising a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and a nutrient selected from a non-pressure nitrogen solution, aqua ammonia, ammonium thiosulfate, sulfur-coated urea, a urea-formaldehyde, isobutylidene diurea (IBDU), polymer-coated urea, methylene urea, ammonium polyphosphate, concentrated superphosphate, triple superphosphate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium-magnesium sulfate, and any combination thereof.
Fixed N production threshold per bacterial cell per hour with root colonization threshold
The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria produce fixed N of at least about 1×10^-17 mmol N per bacterial cell per hour and 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.
Introduced genetic variation in nitrogen fixation and assimilation targets
The composition covers non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria with at least one introduced genetic variation in genes selected from nifA, nifL, ntrB, ntrC, nitrogenase and glutamine/glutaminase-related genes including glnA, glnB, glnK, draT, and amtB, including combinations thereof, and non-coding polynucleotides associated with a nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network.
Gram positive non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria
The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria are Gram positive non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria.
Across the provided excerpt, claim coverage is anchored by a defined composition including non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria and an explicit nutrient list, with quantitative requirements for fixed N production per bacterial cell per hour and quantified colonization on fresh plant root tissue. Dependent claims refine this by specifying genetic variation in nitrogen fixation or assimilation targets and restricting the bacteria to Gram positive.
Stated Advantages
Produces fixed nitrogen at a defined minimum rate while maintaining sufficient colonization on plant root tissue.
The nutrient selection is explicitly tied to the bacteria’s nitrogen-fixing activity and the composition’s ability to support colonization in the presence of an exogenous nitrogen nutrient source.
Documented Applications
Seed-treatment embodiments.
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