Complex Endophyte Compositions for Crop Yield and Stress Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural practices face challenges in improving crop yield and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, with existing genetic and chemical paradigms being inefficient and environmentally unsustainable, and there is a lack of acceptable solutions for doubling food production by 2050 while reducing resource use.
Innovation Solution
Development of synthetic compositions comprising complex endophytes, which are fungal endophytes associated with bacteria, that can be applied to plants to enhance agronomic traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, and nutrient use efficiency, using formulations that include stabilizers and preservatives to ensure viability and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional genetic and chemical paradigms are used to improve crop yield, then food production can be increased, but environmental sustainability deteriorates and resource use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing plant-endophyte symbiotic relationships where the endophytes autonomously provide beneficial functions to the plant host. The endophytes naturally enhance plant stress tolerance, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance without requiring external chemical inputs or intensive resource management, thereby improving food production while reducing resource consumption and environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by transitioning from conventional chemical and genetic approaches to biological parameter modifications. By introducing and manipulating endophytic microorganisms, the system changes the biological parameters of the plant-microbe interface to achieve improved yield and stress tolerance. This involves altering the microbial community composition and functionality within the plant, leading to sustained agricultural improvement with reduced chemical and resource inputs
2Productivity
If GM crops and synthetic chemicals are used to optimize crop performance, then yield can be improved, but public acceptance decreases and market exclusion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using naturally occurring endophytic microorganisms as temporary, biodegradable biological agents rather than persistent synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. These endophytes provide immediate beneficial effects and naturally decompose or cycle within the ecosystem, avoiding the regulatory and public perception issues associated with GM crops and synthetic chemicals, thereby maintaining market acceptance while improving crop yield
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses endophytic microorganisms as intermediary agents between the plant and the environment. These microbial intermediaries mediate the interaction by providing stress tolerance, nutrient acquisition, and disease resistance functions, serving as a bridge that improves crop performance without requiring direct genetic modification or synthetic chemical application, thus maintaining public acceptance and market versatility
3Reliability
If complex endophyte compositions are introduced to plants, then stress resilience and yield improve, but formulation stability and viability become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by formulating complex endophyte compositions that integrate multiple microbial species and functional components into a unified biological formulation. These composite formulations combine different endophytic organisms with complementary functions to achieve enhanced stress resilience and yield improvement, while the composite structure itself provides stability and viability through synergistic interactions among the components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-establishing stable endophyte populations and optimizing formulation conditions before application to plants. The endophytes are cultured, characterized, and formulated under controlled conditions that ensure their viability and stability during storage and application. This preliminary preparation ensures that the complex endophyte compositions maintain their structural integrity and biological activity throughout the formulation process and under various environmental conditions
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a plant by associating the plant with a complex endophyte comprising a host fungus further comprising a component bacterium, including benefits to a plant derived from a seed or other plant element treated with a complex endophyte. For example, this invention provides purified complex endophytes, purified complex endophyte components such as bacteria or fungi, synthetic combinations comprising said complex endophytes and/or components, and methods of making and using the same.