Aqueous Inoculant Composition with Non-Aqueous Carrier for Spore Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inoculant compositions for agriculturally beneficial microorganisms face challenges in maintaining the stability and survival of microbial spores, particularly during storage and application, which affects their effectiveness in agricultural applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of aqueous inoculant compositions comprising Penicillium spores, dispersants, protectants, and aqueous additives, along with a non-aqueous liquid carrier, which can include pesticides, lipo-chitooligosaccharides, chitooligosaccharides, chitinous compounds, flavonoids, and drying agents, to enhance the stability and survival of microbial spores on plant propagation materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional inoculant compositions are used, then microorganisms can be applied to plants, but the stability and survival of microbial spores deteriorate during storage and application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the inoculant composition by incorporating specific protectants (sugars, polyols, proteins), dispersants, and aqueous additives that modify the microenvironment around spores. These parameter changes include adjusting osmotic pressure, molecular crowding, and chemical protection levels to enhance spore stability during storage without compromising germination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite inoculant composition integrating multiple functional components: Penicillium spores as the active agent, protectants (trehalose, sucrose, glycerol, proteins) for stabilization, dispersants for uniform distribution, and a non-aqueous liquid carrier. This composite structure provides synergistic protection, where each component contributes to maintaining spore viability during storage and application.
2Reliability
If protective agents are added to enhance spore stability, then the composition complexity increases, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The protectants and dispersants are incorporated into the inoculant composition during the manufacturing process before application. This preliminary action ensures that protective mechanisms are already in place, eliminating the need for complex post-manufacturing adjustments or specialized storage conditions, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing workflow while maintaining high spore stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediaries such as proteins (casein, gelatin, albumin) and polysaccharides that mediate between the spores and the external environment. These intermediary substances form protective matrices around spores, simplifying the formulation process by providing a ready-made protective structure that reduces the need for complex multi-step manufacturing procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
[A]queous inoculant compositions comprising microbial spores and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial spores in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, the aqueous inoculant compositions comprise microbial spores, one or more dispersants, one or more protectants, one or more aqueous additives in a non-aqueous liquid carrier.