Biological Control Agent Compositions for Nematicidal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for addressing plant parasitic nematode and fungal infestations, particularly in agricultural settings, face challenges with the effectiveness of biological control agents and the toxicity concerns of chemical nematicides, leading to suboptimal plant vigor and yield.
Innovation Solution
Compositions combining agriculturally beneficial biological control agents, such as spore-forming bacteria, with insect control agents that enhance root mass, formulated into stable compositions for application as seed coatings, soil drenches, or foliar sprays, to create a synergistic effect improving plant protection without the need for toxic chemical nematicides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical nematicides are used to combat nematode infestations, then plant protection effectiveness is improved, but toxicity to the environment and human health worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing traditional chemical nematicides with a combination of biological control agents (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus firmus, Trichoderma spp.) and insect control agents. This parameter change maintains protection effectiveness while eliminating the toxicity problem associated with chemical nematicides.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite treatment composition combining biological control agents (bacteria and fungi) with insect control agents. This composite approach integrates multiple mechanisms of action - the biological agents provide nematicidal and fungicidal activity while the insect control agents enhance root mass and provide additional protection, achieving reliable plant protection without chemical nematicide toxicity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biological control agents are used to treat nematode and fungal infestations, then environmental sustainability is improved, but treatment effectiveness worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges biological control agents (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus firmus, Trichoderma spp.) with insect control agents in a single composition. The biological agents provide nematicidal and fungicidal activity while the insect control agents enhance root mass and provide additional protection. This combination achieves treatment effectiveness comparable to or exceeding chemical nematicides while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional treatment composition where biological control agents provide nematicidal activity, fungicidal activity, and root colonization benefits, while insect control agents contribute to root mass enhancement and additional pest protection. This multi-functionality ensures comprehensive effectiveness against multiple threats while maintaining environmental sustainability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If purely biological treatments are used to improve plant vigor and yield, then toxicity concerns are reduced, but overall effectiveness in improving plant vigor and yield worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the treatment composition by incorporating insect control agents alongside biological control agents. This parameter modification enables the treatment to enhance root mass and provide additional protection mechanisms, thereby improving plant vigor and yield outcomes while maintaining reduced toxicity levels compared to traditional chemical nematicides.
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 combination of biological and insect control agents significantly enhances plant vigor and yield by promoting root colonization and nematicidal/fungicidal activity, providing improved protection against nematodes and fungi, even in infested environments, with the added benefit of environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
The compositions and methods disclosed in WO 2007/149817 rely on combinations of at least one biological control agent and at least one nematicide
Implementation Method 2
The biological control agent can be at least one spore-forming bacterium with proven agricultural benefit and, ideally, the ability to colonize a plant's root system
Implementation Method 3
The insect control agent can be at least one chemical insecticide that, whether or not having proven direct nematicidal or fungicidal activity, does posses the proven ability to increase the mass of the plant's root system to which it is applied
Implementation Method 4
The compositions according to the invention exhibit surprisingly high degrees of insecticidal, nematicidal, acaricidal or fungicidal activity in the treatment of plants, plant parts or plant propagation material, due to a synergistic effect between the biological control agent and the insect control agents or fungicides
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions are provided that improve overall plant vigor and yield by combining agriculturally effective amounts of at least one environmentally friendly biological control agent and at least one fungicide. A composition of the present invention is particularly effective in the presence of plant parasitic nematode and fungal species. Along with a benefit of reducing insect pressure, the inventive composition enhances the root system of a plant and improves the establishment of the biological control agent within the rhizosphere, thereby enhancing the effectiveness thereof. Use of a composition of the present invention leads to an overall reduction in crop losses caused by either plant parasitic nematodes or fungi and this reduction is much greater than would have been expected from application of either component alone. Methods for utilizing compositions of the present invention are also provided. Further the compositions according to this invention display synergistic insecticidal, nematicidal, acaricidal or fungicidal activity.