Burkholderia A396 Formulations for Corn Rootworm Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current chemical insecticides used to control corn rootworm infestations are non-selective, persistent, and environmentally harmful, leading to resistance in insects and significant economic losses, while crop rotation is limited by economic demands and spread of rootworm strains.

Innovation Solution

The use of Burkholderia A396 sp. nov. rinojensis, a non-pathogenic bacterium, to decrease corn rootworm infestation and increase crop yield by applying its culture, suspension, or whole cell broth, optionally with carriers or adjuvants, to modulate mortality and hatching rates of corn rootworm larvae.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical insecticides are used to control corn rootworm infestations, then infestation control is achieved, but environmental harm and insect resistance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfestation controlVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the insecticide from persistent synthetic chemicals to biodegradable microbial agents (Burkholderia species). This parameter change maintains infestation control effectiveness while eliminating the persistence and environmental accumulation problems of chemical insecticides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes chemical insecticides with a biological system (Burkholderia bacteria). The biological mechanism of the bacteria (producing pesticidal compounds, competing with pests) replaces the chemical toxicological mechanism, achieving pest control without environmental harm and resistance development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If chemical insecticides are used to control corn rootworm infestations, then infestation control is achieved, but insect resistance develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfestation controlVSAvoidinsect resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical insecticides with a biological control system using Burkholderia species. The biological mechanism involves multiple factors (pesticidal compounds, competition, habitat modification) that are harder for insects to develop resistance against compared to single-mode chemical insecticides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The Burkholderia-based insecticide represents a composite biological system containing multiple active components (different pesticidal compounds, metabolic products, and biological mechanisms) that work synergistically, making it more difficult for insects to develop resistance compared to single-chemical formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If crop rotation is used to control rootworm spread, then pest spread is reduced, but economic demands limit its effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest spreadVSAvoideconomic efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces Burkholderia species as an intermediary biological agent that directly controls rootworm populations in the current crop system. This eliminates the need for crop rotation as an intermediary control measure, allowing continuous corn production while maintaining pest control through the applied bacterial formulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11917999B2Use of <i>Burkholderia </i>formulations, compositions and compounds to modulate crop yield and/or corn rootworm infestation

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 PFG HOLDING CORP

AI summary

Provided is the use of or compositions or formulations comprising Burkholderia species, filtrate, supernatant, extract, pesticidally active compound or metabolite derived therefrom as an insecticide, particularly against infestation of Corn Rootworm larvae, and/or as crop yield enhancer.