Microbial Inoculant Composition for Desiccation-Stable Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inoculant compositions face challenges in maintaining the stability and survival of agriculturally beneficial microorganisms, which is crucial for their effectiveness in agricultural applications.

Innovation Solution

Inoculant compositions comprising maltodextrins, sugar alcohols, humic acids, and fulvic acids, along with other additives, enhance the stability and survival of microorganisms by creating a stabilizing medium that protects them during storage and application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional inoculant compositions are used, then application is simple, but microorganism survival and stability are poor under desiccation and environmental stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroorganism survivalVSAvoiddesiccation and environmental stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating stabilizing agents (sugar alcohols, humic acids, fulvic acids, maltodextrins) into the inoculant composition before exposure to harsh conditions. These agents create a protective environment that cushions microorganisms against desiccation and environmental stress, allowing them to survive storage and application conditions that would otherwise be lethal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple stabilizing agents (sugar alcohols, humic acids, fulvic acids, maltodextrins, monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides) with the microorganisms in a single inoculant composition. This composite approach creates synergistic protection, where each component contributes different protective mechanisms against desiccation and environmental stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If microorganisms are stabilized for long-term storage, then survival rate improves, but composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidcomposition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by selecting stabilizing agents that perform multiple functions simultaneously. For example, sugar alcohols provide desiccation protection, act as carbon sources, and maintain cellular turgor pressure. Humic acids and fulvic acids provide UV protection, chelate metals, and maintain pH stability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for numerous separate additives while achieving comprehensive protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentrations and ratios of stabilizing agents to achieve long-term stability. By carefully controlling parameters such as sugar alcohol concentration (1-50% w/v), humic acid content (0.1-10% w/v), and fulvic acid content (0.1-10% w/v), the composition maintains microorganism viability during storage without requiring overly complex formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple stabilizing agents are added, then microorganism stability improves, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroorganism stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using readily available, low-cost stabilizing agents that can be easily manufactured or sourced. Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, arabitol), humic acids, and fulvic acids are relatively inexpensive materials that can be produced through standard industrial processes, making the inoculant composition cost-effective despite containing multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple stabilizing functions into a single integrated composition rather than requiring separate treatment steps. By combining sugar alcohols, humic acids, fulvic acids, and other stabilizers in one formulation, the patent simplifies manufacturing processes and reduces the need for multiple sequential additions, thereby controlling costs while maintaining high microorganism stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 compositions improve microbial stability and survival rates, leading to enhanced plant growth and yield by ensuring the microorganisms remain viable and functional under various environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

enhancing the survival and stability of microorganisms in inoculant compositions... particularly under desiccation and varying environmental conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDesiccation protection: Desiccation

Data Source

PatentUS12624333B2Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 NOVONESIS PLANT BIOSOLUTIONS AS

AI summary

The present disclosure provides stable inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microorganisms in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, the microorganisms in an inoculant compositions are stabilized by the presence of one or more sugar alcohols, humic acids and/or fulvic acids and one or more maltodextrins, monosaccharides, disaccharides, oxidation control components and/or UV protectants.