Fertilizer composition and manufacturing method of the same

Abstract

To meet two needs of providing a novel fertilizer composition including excellent characteristics, and heightening, in a case where a lignin-derived component is used to grow a plant, persistence of effects of lignin-derived component.SOLUTION: A fertilizer composition is obtained by blending nucleic acid having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000-100,000, a yeast cell wall component, and lignin sulfonic acid or salt thereof. The fertilizer composition may be obtained by preparing, respectively, the nucleic acid, the yeast cell wall component, and the lignin sulfonic acid or the salt thereof and mixing those materials. The fertilizer composition may be obtained by cultivating yeast in a medium including the lignin sulfonic acid or the salt thereof, alkaline-treating the yeast, and recovering the admixture containing the medium including the lignin sulfonic acid or the salt thereof, the nucleic acid derived from the yeast, and the yeast cell wall component derived from the yeast.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fertilizer composition and a method for producing the same, and more particularly to a fertilizer composition using yeast and a method for producing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Yeast contains abundant nutrients, and it has been proposed to use extracted nucleic acids, amino acids, peptides, etc. as growth promoters for plants and mushrooms (e.g., Patent Documents 1 to 3). In addition, because yeast cell walls contain glucan and mannan components, it has been proposed to use these as plant growth promoters (e.g., Patent Document 4).

[0003] Lignin is an aromatic polymer found in plant cell walls and is a naturally occurring and abundant biomass resource. Traditionally, lignin has been recovered from black liquor discharged from the paper pulp manufacturing process and used mainly as fuel for boilers, but development of a wider range of applications is currently underway. The main source of lignin is wood, and there are growing expectations for it as a resource suitable for sustainable development. As lignin is an aromatic polymer, it is expected to be used in a variety of fields, for example as a raw material for chemicals, resins, rubber, etc.

[0004] Proposed uses of lignin in the field of plant cultivation include, for example, use as a plant water retaining material or soil conditioner (eg, Patent Document 5) and use as a plant growth promoter (eg, Patent Document 6). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 148193 [Patent Document 2] JP 2002-262663 A [Patent Document 3] JP2013-021989A [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2006 / 059683 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-227301 [Patent Document 6] Patent No. 6498853 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, the yeast-derived components and the lignin-derived components have been used in various applications. However, they have only been used separately so far, and the combined use of the two has been an unknown field with little progress in research and development.

[0007] The present inventors have conducted extensive and intensive research into new fertilizer compositions for plant growth and have found that the desired effects of lignin-derived components may not last long in soil.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, one of the problems to be solved is to provide a new fertilizer composition having excellent properties. Another problem to be solved is to increase the durability of the effect of a lignin-derived component when the lignin-derived component is used for growing plants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The invention presented in this disclosure can be understood as several aspects from various perspectives, and includes, for example, the following aspects that can be embodied as a means for solving the problems. Hereinafter, the invention presented in this disclosure will also be referred to as "the present invention."

[0010] [1] A nucleic acid having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000; Yeast cell wall components, Lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof; A fertilizer composition comprising: [2] The fertilizer composition according to the above [1], wherein the content of the lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof is 1 to 30% by weight. [3] The fertilizer composition according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the nucleic acid is a ribonucleic acid. [4] The fertilizer composition according to any one of the above [1] to [3], further comprising an amino acid. [5] The fertilizer composition according to any one of the above [1] to [4], further comprising a sulfite. [6] A method for producing a fertilizer composition, comprising mixing a nucleic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, a yeast cell wall component, and lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof. [7] A method for producing the fertilizer composition according to the above-mentioned [6], comprising: subjecting yeast to a nucleus treatment to separate and recover nucleic acid and enucleated yeast; and preparing the nucleic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000 and the yeast cell wall component, respectively. [8] A method for producing a fertilizer composition comprising a nucleic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, a yeast cell wall component, and lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, comprising: Cultivating yeast in a medium containing lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof; treating the yeast with alkali; recovering a mixture containing a medium containing the lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, nucleic acid derived from the yeast, and a yeast cell wall component derived from the yeast; The manufacturing method comprising the steps of: [9] A fertilizer composition comprising the mixture recovered by the production method according to [8] above. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention presented in the present disclosure, a new fertilizer composition can be provided that uses a yeast-derived component and a lignin-derived component, and that is highly sustainable and exhibits excellent effects. In one embodiment of the invention presented in this disclosure, the taste quality of leafy vegetables can be improved. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention presented in this disclosure, the yield of crops such as fruit vegetables and root vegetables can be increased. In one embodiment of the invention presented in this disclosure, the deficiency of trace elements can be improved. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the expression "MM-NN" in relation to a numerical range means "MM or more and NN or less" (here, "MM" and "NN" indicate any numerical value). In addition, the unit of the lower limit and the upper limit is the same as the unit immediately following the latter (i.e., "NN" here) unless otherwise specified. In addition, in this disclosure, the expression "X and / or Y" means both X and Y, or either one of them.

[0013] 1. Fertilizer composition One embodiment of the present invention may be a fertilizer composition. In the present disclosure, the "fertilizer composition" includes an embodiment in which the composition is used as a "fertilizer" as it is, and an embodiment in which the composition is used as a "fertilizer additive" by mixing with other fertilizers. In one embodiment of the invention, the fertilizer composition contains a nucleic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, a yeast cell wall component, and lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof.

[0014] The uses of the fertilizer composition include various aspects used in relation to fertilizers, and for example, there is no particular limitation on the target plants. Target plants include, for example, fruit trees, vegetables, grains, and ornamental plants. In one embodiment of the present invention, it is expected to assist the absorption of nitrogen (N) components, and may be suitable as a fertilizer for leafy vegetables, for example. In one embodiment of the present invention, lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof has a chelating effect, and is expected to improve deficiencies of inorganic components or trace elements.

[0015] The present inventors have found that when a lignin-derived component is used alone, its effect may not last long in soil. The present inventors have found that one of the reasons for this is that the lignin-derived component contains a component having a chelating effect, such as lignosulfonic acid, and therefore is easily washed away by the supply of water, such as irrigation. Although the mechanism of action is not necessarily clear, it is presumed that by culturing yeast in a medium containing a lignin-derived component, the lignin-derived component is taken up into the yeast or adheres to the cell wall of the yeast, and remains in the yeast cell wall component even after harvesting and processing, so that the lignin-derived component, such as lignosulfonic acid or its salt, is less likely to wash away.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer composition contains a nucleic acid. By incorporating a nucleic acid into the fertilizer composition, decomposition and the like are promoted via the action of soil microorganisms, and excellent fertilizer effect can be exhibited.

[0017] The nucleic acid may be not only a nucleic acid as a polymer but also a nucleotide which is a structural unit of a nucleic acid, but a relatively large molecule is preferable. In a preferred embodiment, for example, a nucleic acid molecule having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 50,000 to 100,000 is contained in the fertilizer composition.

[0018] The lower limit of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the nucleic acid can be preferably 5,000 or more, more preferably 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, or 9,000 or more, and even more preferably 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000 or more. The upper limit of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the nucleic acid can be preferably 100,000 or less, more preferably 80,000 or less, and even more preferably 70,000, 60,0000, or 50,000 or less. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of a nucleic acid can be determined, for example, by GPC (gel permeation chromatography).

[0019] The type of sugar constituting the nucleic acid may be either deoxyribose or ribose. That is, the nucleic acid may be either deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). The main types of bases constituting the nucleic acid include adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine, and uracil. The phosphate constituting the nucleotide may be monophosphate or may be composed of multiple phosphates. A commercially available product may be used as the nucleic acid. One type of nucleic acid may be blended alone, or multiple types may be blended in combination. Ribonucleic acid may be preferably used as the nucleic acid.

[0020] The origin of the nucleic acid is not particularly limited, and may be artificially synthesized or derived from natural products. For example, it may be extracted or purified from microorganisms such as yeast. By using wood sugars contained in waste biological resources, such as waste wood, to grow microorganisms such as yeast, obtain nucleic acids, and use them in a fertilizer composition, the waste materials can be converted into useful substances, which can contribute to the formation of a sustainable recycling-based society.

[0021] The content of nucleic acid in the fertilizer composition may be adjusted appropriately according to the use of the fertilizer composition.For example, the content of nucleic acid is generally different between fertilizer and fertilizer additive.As an example, the standard of the content of nucleic acid when the fertilizer composition is used as a fertilizer is as follows.

[0022] The lower limit of the nucleic acid content in the fertilizer composition is preferably 3% by weight or more, more preferably 5, 6, or 7% by weight or more, and even more preferably 8, 9, or 10% by weight or more. The upper limit of the nucleic acid content in the fertilizer composition is preferably 50% by weight or less, more preferably 30% by weight or less, and even more preferably 20% by weight or less. A preferred embodiment is, for example, a fertilizer composition containing a nucleic acid having the preferred weight-average molecular weight (for example, 5,000 to 100,000) shown above in the preferred content shown here.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer composition contains a yeast cell wall component. The yeast cell wall component can contribute to increased yields of fruit vegetables, root vegetables, and the like.

[0024] The term "yeast cell wall component" refers to a part or the whole of a cell wall derived from yeast, or a fibrous component. The yeast cell wall component may be a denucleated yeast obtained by denucleating nucleic acids from yeast cells, a cell wall that retains the shape of the yeast outer shell, or a cell wall that has been pulverized to such an extent that the shape of the outer shell is no longer retained.

[0025] The content of the yeast cell wall component in the fertilizer composition may be appropriately adjusted according to the use of the fertilizer composition. For example, the content will generally be different between fertilizers and fertilizer additives. For example, the yeast cell wall component content when the fertilizer composition is used as a fertilizer is as follows. The lower limit of the content of the yeast cell wall component in the fertilizer composition is preferably 3% by weight or more, more preferably 5% by weight or more, and even more preferably 10% by weight or more. The upper limit of the yeast cell wall component content in the fertilizer composition is preferably 30% by weight or less, more preferably 25% by weight or less, and even more preferably 20% by weight or less.

[0026] Yeast can be used as a raw material for nucleic acid and yeast cell wall components in the fertilizer composition. The type of yeast that can be used may be sporogenous yeast or non-sporogenous yeast. Specific examples of yeast include the following types.

[0027] Examples of spore-forming yeasts include yeasts of the genera Shizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Hansenula, Pichia, Debaryomyces, and Lipomyces, and more specifically, Shizosaccharomyces pombe, Shizosaccharomyces octosporus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces uvarum, Saccharomyces rouxii, and Saccharomyces spp. rouxii); Kluyveromyces fragilis, Kluyveromyces lactis; Hansenula anomala; Pichia membranaefaciens; Debaryomyces hansenii; and Lipomyces starkeyi.

[0028] Examples of asporogenous yeasts include yeasts of the genera Torulopsis, Candida, and Rhodotorula, more specifically, Torulopsis versatilis, Candida tropicalis, Candida lipolytica, Candida utilis, and Rhodotorula glutinis. In addition, yeasts of the genus Candida are also called torula yeasts in terms of taxonomy, and are sometimes classified as yeasts of the genus Cyberlindnera.

[0029] Preferred examples of yeast that can be used include brewer's yeast, wine yeast, baker's yeast, and torula yeast, and more specifically, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces uvarum, Saccharomyces rouxii, Kluyveromyces fragilis, Torulopsis versatilis, Candida tropicalis, Candida lipolytica, Candida utilis, and Rhodotorula glutinis. In addition, Candida utilis is sometimes classified as a species of torula yeast (Cyberlindnera jadinii) in taxonomic terms.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer composition contains lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof. By incorporating lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, spoilage of the fertilizer composition made from yeast can be suppressed.

[0031] Lignosulfonic acid is a compound having a skeleton in which a carbon at the α-position of the side chain of the hydroxyphenylpropane structure of lignin is cleaved to introduce a sulfo group. Lignosulfonic acid may be in the form of a salt. That is, lignosulfonic acid may be added to the fertilizer composition in the form of a salt. Examples of lignosulfonate salts include calcium salts, magnesium salts, sodium salts, calcium-sodium mixed salts, ammonium salts, and organic ammonium salts. Lignosulfonic acid or its salts can be obtained, for example, from sulfite pulp effluent generated in the papermaking industry. In addition, the lignosulfonic acid or its salts used in the present invention may be lignosulfonic acid or its salts modified with a polyelectrolyte having functional groups such as sulfonic groups, carboxyl groups, and phenolic hydroxyl groups.

[0032] The content of lignosulfonic acid or its salt in the fertilizer composition may be adjusted appropriately according to the use of the fertilizer composition. For example, the content is generally different between fertilizers and fertilizer additives. Although it is difficult to determine it uniformly, the following is an example of the content of lignosulfonic acid or its salt when the fertilizer composition is used as a fertilizer. The lower limit of the content of lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof in the fertilizer composition is preferably 1% by weight or more, more preferably 3% by weight or more, and even more preferably 5% by weight or more. The upper limit of the content of lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof in the fertilizer composition is preferably 50% by weight or less, more preferably 40% by weight or less, and even more preferably 30% by weight or less.

[0033] Another preferred embodiment of the fertilizer composition may be a composition containing amino acids. By blending amino acids, it is possible to contribute to the cultivation of agricultural crops with good taste, and among agricultural crops, it is suitable for improving the taste of leafy vegetables. The amino acids contained in the fertilizer composition can preferably be amino acids derived from yeast.

[0034] As another preferred embodiment of the fertilizer composition, a sulfite may be blended in. Blending of a sulfite can contribute to suppression of oxidation of the fertilizer composition and suppression of proliferation of various bacteria.

[0035] In addition, the fertilizer composition may contain, as necessary, optional components such as moisture, oil, pH adjuster, antioxidant, preservative, coloring material, fragrance, excipient, vitamins, hormones, amino acids, antibiotics, antibacterial agents, bactericides, and insecticides.

[0036] The fertilizer composition may be in a form generally used as a fertilizer or fertilizer additive. The form of the fertilizer composition may be, for example, powder, granule, mash, pellet, crumble, and flake. The form of the fertilizer composition may be a single form, or a mixture of two or more of the above forms, such as a mixture of pellets and flakes, or a mixture of mash and pellets.

[0037] The fertilizer composition may be used, for example, as a fertilizer or a fertilizer additive. When used as a fertilizer, the mixture containing the above-mentioned nucleic acid, yeast cell wall component, and lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof may be used as a fertilizer as it is.

[0038] In addition, when the fertilizer composition is used as a fertilizer, the fertilizer composition may contain a main fertilizer component (hereinafter also referred to as a major fertilizer component). Examples of the major fertilizer component include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S). In addition, trace elements used as fertilizers may be contained. Examples of the trace elements for fertilizers include iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), and copper (Cu). Some of these can be supplied by an embodiment of inorganic components contained in lignin sulfonate.

[0039] Furthermore, when the fertilizer composition is used as a fertilizer additive, it may be added as an additive to a general fertilizer whose main components are nitrogen-phosphate-potassium.

[0040] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer composition can be an organic fertilizer. Since the nucleic acid, the yeast cell wall component, and the lignin sulfonic acid or a salt thereof are each an organic component, the fertilizer composition containing these three components can be used as an organic fertilizer as it is. As described below, these components can be produced by culturing yeast as an embodiment of the production method, and the fertilizer is a fertilizer that can be produced with high sustainability. In addition, as one embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer composition may be blended with other organic fertilizer components. Examples of other organic fertilizer components include oil cake, chicken manure, fish meal, rice bran, and wood ash, and one or more of these may be appropriately combined and blended in the fertilizer composition of the present disclosure.

[0041] As another embodiment of the present invention, the fertilizer composition may contain so-called chemical fertilizers. In the present disclosure, chemical fertilizers refer to fertilizers manufactured through industrial processes using inorganic raw materials. Examples of chemical fertilizers include nitrogen-based fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate, and lime nitrogen, phosphoric acid-based fertilizers such as superphosphate and fused phosphorus fertilizer, potassium sulfate and potassium chloride-based fertilizers, calcareous fertilizers such as slaked lime, calcium carbonate, and magnesium lime, and magnesium fertilizers such as magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate. One or more of these may be appropriately combined and mixed into the fertilizer composition of the present disclosure.

[0042] 2. Method for producing fertilizer composition Some embodiments of the present invention include a method of producing the fertilizer composition.

[0043] <First embodiment relating to manufacturing method> A first embodiment of the production method of the present invention comprises mixing a nucleic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, a yeast cell wall component, and lignosulfonic acid.

[0044] Ultimately, the three components of nucleic acid, yeast cell wall components, and lignosulfonic acid are mixed together, and each component may be mixed one by one, or each component may be added and mixed at the same time. The nucleic acid, yeast cell wall components, and lignosulfonic acid are as described above. Each component may be prepared separately, or yeast may be cultured and the nucleic acid and yeast cell wall may be prepared using the yeast as a raw material.

[0045] For example, as a modification of the first embodiment, yeast may be subjected to a nucleus removal treatment to separate the nucleic acid and the enucleated yeast, which are then recovered, and the nucleic acid and the yeast cell wall component having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000 may be prepared separately. In addition to the nucleic acid and the yeast cell wall component thus prepared, lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof may be added to obtain a fertilizer composition.

[0046] The nucleus removal treatment can be carried out, for example, by contacting the yeast with an alkaline agent, saline, cell wall-lytic enzymes, etc. to dissolve the yeast cell walls, elute the yeast contents into a medium, and separate the cell wall components from other components. The separated components may be purified and powdered as necessary.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, when nucleic acid and yeast cell wall components are mixed, the yeast cells may be mixed as they are, or the nucleic acid and yeast cell wall components may be separated and then mixed again.

[0048] The alkali treatment may be carried out by a method generally used for obtaining yeast extracts. That is, an alkaline agent may be used to dissolve or destroy part or all of the yeast cell wall, so that the components within the yeast cell are eluted. Preferred alkaline agents include, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate.

[0049] According to the first embodiment of the production method, a fertilizer composition that is less likely to spoil can be produced at low cost. In addition, in the first embodiment of the production method, the amount of lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof added can be easily adjusted. Therefore, when it is desired to reduce the amount of lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof added, for example, to about 10% by weight, 8% by weight, or 5% by weight or less, the first embodiment is easy to implement.

[0050] <Second embodiment regarding manufacturing method> A second embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention comprises the following steps: Cultivating yeast in a medium containing lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof; treating the yeast with alkali; recovering a mixture containing a medium containing the lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, nucleic acid derived from the yeast, and a yeast cell wall component derived from the yeast; Includes.

[0051] In a second embodiment of the production method, lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof is blended into a culture medium for culturing yeast. Blending lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof into the culture medium can suppress yeast from spoiling during yeast culture. In addition, since the culture medium containing lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof is collected and used as a fertilizer composition, the fertilizer composition can also be made less likely to spoil.

[0052] The medium used for culturing yeast may be a medium generally used for culturing yeast, to which lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof has been added. The lower limit of the content of lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof to be added to the medium is preferably 1% by weight or more, more preferably 3% by weight or more, and even more preferably 5% by weight or more. The upper limit of the content of lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof to be added to the medium is preferably 50% by weight or less, more preferably 40% by weight or less, and even more preferably 30% by weight or less.

[0053] Once a sufficient amount of yeast has been cultured, the yeast is treated with alkali in the same manner as in the first embodiment, thereby dissolving the nucleic acid into the medium.

[0054] After the alkali treatment, the medium containing lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, the nucleic acid derived from the yeast, and the yeast cell wall component derived from the yeast are collected together to obtain a mixture containing the three components of the nucleic acid, the yeast cell wall component, and lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof. After the alkali treatment, it is preferable to adjust the pH to a level suitable for use as a fertilizer before or after collection.

[0055] In the second embodiment, the number of steps required to obtain a mixture containing the above three components can be reduced, and therefore the fertilizer composition can be produced simply and at low cost.

[0056] In addition, in the fertilizer composition produced according to the second embodiment, yeast is cultured in a medium containing lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, and therefore lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof adheres to the inside and outside of the yeast cell wall, forming a complex in a very loose bond relationship. Therefore, it is presumed that after the fertilizer composition thus obtained is applied to soil or a medium, the lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof adhered to the yeast cell wall is less likely to be washed out of the soil, etc. by irrigation or rainfall than free lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof. EXAMPLES

[0057] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples. However, the technical scope of the present invention in this disclosure is not limited to the following examples.

[0058] 1. Fertilizer Preparation <Example 1 (Fertilizer 1)> An RNA formulation (product name: RNA-M, manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.) and a de-nucleated yeast product (product name: Cavitorula, manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.) were weighed out in a weight ratio of 1:9 and mixed in a blender to prepare Example 1 (Fertilizer 1). Note that the de-nucleated yeast in "Cavitorula" contains lignin sulfonate.

[0059] <Example 2 (Fertilizer 2)> The raw material yeast (Cyberlindnera jadinii) was cultured using a sulfite pulp effluent medium with a sugar concentration of 3% and a lignosulfonic acid concentration of 10%, and the yeast was collected. The yeast collected contained 20% lignosulfonic acid or its salt by weight in terms of lignosulfonic acid. Then, 3000 g of the obtained yeast was stirred in a boiling bath at 95°C for 10 minutes to inactivate the intracellular enzymes. Then, in a water bath adjusted to a temperature of 55°C, the pH was adjusted to 8.5 with a 48% NaOH aqueous solution, and an alkaline extraction reaction was carried out by stirring for 2 hours. After the reaction, the pH was adjusted to 7.0 with 35% HCl. Then, the mixture was dried in a double drum dryer (surface temperature 120°C, 3 rpm), and the dried product formed into a film was ground in a mortar to obtain a dried product (powder). The powder contains nucleic acid derived from the yeast, the denucleated yeast cell wall, and the lignosulfonic acid or its salt used in the culture. This powder was designated as Example 2 (Fertilizer 2).

[0060] The composition of the fertilizer was analyzed as follows. <Analysis of soluble and insoluble nucleic acids> The nucleic acids of the soluble and insoluble components obtained by suspending each fertilizer in water were measured according to the Schmidt-Thannhauser-Schneider method for quantifying high molecular weight nucleic acids (see "Biological Chemistry Experimental Methods", University of Tokyo Press, 1969, first edition, pp. 16-28). Note that "soluble nucleic acids" can be measured by classifying them into relatively high molecular weight nucleic acids (e.g., weight average molecular weight, about 10,000-50,000) and relatively low molecular weight nucleic acids (e.g., weight average molecular weight, less than about 10,000) according to their molecular weight.

[0061] <Analysis of Magnesium Lignosulfonate> Generally, methoxyl groups bonded to aromatic nuclei exist in the structure of lignin. Therefore, the methoxyl group content serves as an indicator of the lignin content. For example, the methoxyl group content was measured by the method for quantifying methoxyl groups according to the Viebock and Schwappach method (refer to "Research Methods for Lignin Chemistry", pp. 336 - 340, 1994, published by Yuni Publishing Co., Ltd.), and the amount of magnesium lignosulfonate was quantified from the measured methoxyl group content.

[0062] <Analysis of <β-glucan>> It was measured using the method described in the β-glucan (β-1,3:1,6 yeast type) assay kit manufactured by Nippon Biocon Co., Ltd.

[0063] <Analysis of N (Nitrogen)> The total nitrogen content was determined by the 4.1.1.a method (Kjeldahl method) specified in the Test Methods for Fertilizers, etc. (Method of the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2018).

[0064] <Analysis of P (Phosphorus)> The total phosphoric acid content (P2O5) was determined by the 4.2.1.a method (ammonium vanadomolybdate spectrophotometry) specified in the Test Methods for Fertilizers, etc. (Method of the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2018).

[0065] <Analysis of K (Potassium)> The total potassium content (K2O) was determined by the 7.5 method (method for quantifying various elements by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry) specified in the Fertilizer Analysis Method (Method of the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 1992).

[0066] The analysis values of Examples 1 and 2 are shown in Table 1. Note that "P" is the analysis value as "P2O5", and "K" is the analysis value as "K2O".

[0067]

Table 1

[0068] <Analysis of Free Amino Acids> The content of free amino acids contained in the fertilizer of Example 1 or 2 was measured by HPLC for measuring amino acids and calculated by the following formula 1.

[0069] <Expression 1> Free amino acid content (wt%) = free amino acid weight (g) / dry weight (g) × 100

[0070] The weight of free amino acids was quantified using a high performance liquid chromatography system (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation) under the following conditions. Column: TSK-GEL Amino Pak (Tosoh Corporation) Detection: Fluorescence detection Eluent: Gradient elution with citrate buffer (pH 3 → pH 9)

[0071] The results of the free amino acid analysis are shown in Table 2.

[0072] [Table 2]

[0073] 2. Growth test (Komatsuna) A growth test was conducted using Komatsuna. The following two test plots were set up. <Test Area 1> A commercially available horticultural soil (product name: Planta Culture Soil PD20, manufactured by Iseki Kanto Koshinetsu Co., Ltd.) was used as the soil. The fertilizer of Example 2 was used as the fertilizer.

[0074] <Test Area 2> Commercially available horticultural soil (product name: Planta Culture Soil PD20, manufactured by Iseki Kanto Koshinetsu Co., Ltd.) was used as the culture soil. A commercially available chemical fertilizer (product name: Advanced Chemical 444, manufactured by Seiwa Fertilizer Co., Ltd.) containing 14% by weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium was used as the fertilizer.

[0075] <How to Train> In test area 1, 50 g of the fertilizer of Example 2 was added to 4 L of culture soil. On the other hand, in test area 2, the above-mentioned advanced chemical fertilizer was added to 4 L of culture soil so that the nitrogen content was the same as that of test area 1. Then, a growth test was carried out for three months. No particular temperature control was performed.

[0076] The results of the Komatsuna growth test are shown in Table 3.

[0077] [Table 3]

[0078] As shown in Table 3, it was clear that the use of the fertilizer of Example 2 resulted in a higher yield, better growth conditions, and better flavor.

[0079] 3. Growth test (Morning jasmine) A growth test was conducted using Malabar vine. The following four test plots were set up.

[0080] <Test Area 1> The soil used for the test was from the site of Nippon Paper Industries' Gotsu Mill in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture. No fertilizer was added.

[0081] <Test Area 2> The soil used for the test was from the site of the Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. Gotsu Mill in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture. The fertilizer used was magnesium lignosulfonate (product name: P321) manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

[0082] <Test Area 3> The soil used for the test was from within the grounds of the Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. Gotsu Mill in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture. The fertilizer used was the fertilizer of Example 1.

[0083] <Test Area 4> The soil used for the test was from the site of Nippon Paper Industries' Gotsu Mill in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture. The fertilizer used was a commercially available compound fertilizer (product name: Sanpuku Kasei Toku No. 8, manufactured by LO Co., Ltd.) containing 8% by weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

[0084] <Growth method and taste test> Approximately 4.5L of soil was placed in a planter (14cm x 18cm x 11.5cm) and 30g of each type of fertilizer was added. Two Tsuyumurasaki plants were then planted. The growth test was carried out for two months. No particular temperature control was performed. After two months, the height and leaf size were measured, and after harvesting, the boiled leaves were subjected to a taste test.

[0085] The measurement results for length etc. and the results of the actual test are shown in Table 4.

[0086] [Table 4]

Claims

1. A nucleic acid having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000; A yeast cell wall component having lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof attached thereto; A fertilizer composition comprising:

2. 2. The fertilizer composition according to claim 1, wherein the content of lignin sulfonic acid or a salt thereof is 1 to 30% by weight.

3. The fertilizer composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nucleic acid is a ribonucleic acid.

4. The fertilizer composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an amino acid.

5. The fertilizer composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sulfite.

6. The fertilizer composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the yeast cell wall component is a yeast cell wall component derived from a yeast of the genus Candida.

7. A method for producing a fertilizer composition, comprising mixing a nucleic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000 with a yeast cell wall component having lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof attached thereto to obtain a fertilizer composition.

Images