Temporally and spatially targeted dynamic nitrogen delivery by remodeled microbes
Inventors
Tamsir, Alvin • BLOCH, Sarah • REISINGER, MARK • SANDERS, ERNEST • BROGLIE, RICHARD • CLARK, Rosemary • Temme, Karsten
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12692203-B2
Publication Date
2026-07-28
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, by mitigating or eliminating the need for exogenous nitrogen-containing fertilizers. The remodeled microbes have unique colonization and nitrogen fixation abilities, which enable the microbes to deliver nitrogen to a cereal plant in a spatially targeted (e.g. rhizospheric) and temporally targeted (e.g. during advantageous stages of plant's life cycle) manner. The microbes are able to replace the standard agricultural practice of sidedressing and enable a more environmentally sustainable form of farming. The present disclosure also provides methods of using non-intergeneric remodeled microbes, for example, to fix atmospheric nitrogen by reducing or eliminating the need for exogenous nitrogen-containing fertilizers, to increase yield, and to reduce infield variability in the yield.
Core Innovation
The invention is an agricultural composition comprising a plurality of corn seeds coated with a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria. The remodeled bacteria produce fixed nitrogen at a rate of at least about 5.49×10⁻¹³ mmol of N per CFU per hour and colonize corn plants upon planting to supply fixed nitrogen. The composition provides a lower standard deviation of mean corn yield measured across a locus compared with control seeds planted without the bacteria.
The microbial remodeling platform utilizes intragenomic promoter swaps and targeted mutations to enhance nitrogen fixation and release without retaining vector DNA. Remodeled bacteria colonize corn roots to deliver fixed nitrogen under diverse fertility regimes. Disclosed field and greenhouse evaluations demonstrate consistent performance across locations, higher yields under nutrient stress relative to untreated controls, and reduced reliance on chemical sidedress nitrogen fertilizers.
Claims Coverage
The claims identify one independent claim comprising four inventive features directed to an agricultural composition of corn seeds coated with non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria.
Corn seeds coated with remodeled bacteria
The composition comprises a plurality of corn seeds and a plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria coated onto the plurality of corn seeds.
Fixed nitrogen production rate
Members of the plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria produce fixed N of at least about 5.49×10⁻¹³ mmol of N per CFU per hour.
Corn plant colonization and nitrogen supply
The non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria are capable of colonizing corn plants upon planting of the corn seeds and supplying the corn plants with fixed N.
Reduced variability in mean corn yield
The standard deviation of mean corn yield measured across a locus upon planting the corn seeds is lower as compared to a control plurality of corn seeds planted without the plurality of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria.
The independent claim covers an agricultural composition of corn seeds coated with non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria that produce fixed nitrogen at a defined threshold rate, colonize corn plants to deliver nitrogen, and yield a lower standard deviation in mean corn yield relative to uninoculated control seeds.
Stated Advantages
The composition is associated with a lower standard deviation of mean corn yield and improved yield consistency across a locus compared with control seeds planted without the non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria.
The composition achieves higher corn yield than untreated and wild-type controls under nutrient-stress conditions, alongside yield win-rate gains under both nutrient-stress and sufficient-fertilizer conditions.
Field trials report mean corn yield comparable to controls with reduced sidedress nitrogen, supporting decreased reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
The composition provides improved corn yields in sandy, challenging soils.
Documented Applications
Corn seed treatment wherein corn seeds are coated with non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria that colonize corn plants upon planting and supply fixed nitrogen.
Delivery of non-intergeneric remodeled bacteria to corn via seed coating or in-furrow application as an ecological alternative to synthetic sidedress nitrogen.
Compatibility and co-application with pesticides, fertilizers, and other crop inputs.
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