Biocontrol Composition for Phytopathogenic Fungi

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling phytopathogenic fungi like Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum are ineffective due to their resistant structures, saprophytic activities, diverse hosts, lack of resistant cultivars, and pesticide resistance, leading to significant crop losses and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

A biological composition combining Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Trichoderma harzianum, and optionally Clonostachys rosea, with additives and excipients, is used to create a formulation that mitigates phytopathogenic fungi through complementary mechanisms of action, offering an alternative to chemical pesticides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical pesticides are used to control phytopathogenic fungi, then disease control effectiveness is improved, but pesticide resistance in fungal populations develops and environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from chemical pesticides to biological control agents, fundamentally changing the type of control substance used. Specifically, it employs Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Trichoderma harzianum as biocontrol agents that produce antifungal compounds through biological processes rather than synthetic chemistry, thereby maintaining disease control effectiveness while eliminating pesticide resistance and environmental pollution issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces chemical mechanisms of action with biological mechanisms. Instead of using synthetic chemical pesticides that directly毒杀 fungi, the system uses living microorganisms that parasitize, compete with, or induce resistance in phytopathogenic fungi, substituting chemical toxicity with biological interaction mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If single-strain biological control agents are used, then formulation simplicity is improved, but control effectiveness against diverse phytopathogenic fungi is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple biological control agents with different mechanisms of action into a single formulation. Specifically, it merges Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (which produces antifungal lipopeptides and enzymes) with Trichoderma harzianum (which parasitizes fungi and produces mycotoxins), creating a synergistic effect that enhances control effectiveness against diverse phytopathogenic fungi while maintaining formulation manageability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional biological control formulation that can address multiple phytopathogenic fungi through different mechanisms. The combination of B. amyloliquefaciens and T. harzianum provides multiple modes of action including antibiosis, parasitism, competition, and induction of plant resistance, making the formulation universally effective against various fungal pathogens

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The formulation effectively controls Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, reducing crop damage and environmental impact by utilizing multiple mechanisms of action, providing a sustainable and efficient control method.

Implementation Method 1

bacteria antagonistic to phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, etc.) have their mechanisms of action associated with the production of secondary compounds and lytic enzymes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProduction of secondary compounds:

Implementation Method 2

bacteria antagonistic to phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, etc.) have their mechanisms of action associated with the production of secondary compounds and lytic enzymes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLytic enzyme activity: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

In the case of fungi commonly used in biological control programs, added to these characteristics is the capacity of parasitizing fungal phytopathogens, e.g., Trichoderma spp. parasitizing Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFungal parasitism:

Implementation Method 4

e.g., Trichoderma spp. parasitizing Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Abdullah et al. 2008) and Clonostachys rosea parasitizing Botrytis cinerea (Huang et al. 2002)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFungal parasitism:

Data Source

PatentUS11877578B2Composition for biologically controlling phytopathogenic fungi
Publication Date: 2024.01.23

AI summary

A composition for biologically controlling phytopathogenic fungi that pertains to the agricultural biotechnology area, more particularly a composition of bacteria and fungi with different complementary mechanisms of action in the mitigation of phytopathogenic fungi in crops. The composition is a formulation containing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Trichoderma harzianum mixed with additives and excipients. Micro-organism Clonostachys rosea can also be added.