Modified Biological Control Agents for Herbicide-Treated Soils
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of resistance to chemical pesticides in pest populations necessitates the need for biological control agents that can compete effectively in field conditions, particularly in the presence of herbicides and fungicides, and are tolerant to crop protection chemicals.
Innovation Solution
Modified biological control agents, such as Pseudomonas strains, are engineered or selected to be resistant to herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides, allowing them to thrive in soils treated with these chemicals and provide protection against plant pathogens and pests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical pesticides are used to control plant diseases and pests, then crop protection and yield are improved, but pesticide resistance develops in pest populations and health/environmental risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical pesticides with biological control agents (microorganisms) to control plant diseases and pests. This substitution eliminates pesticide resistance issues while maintaining crop protection effectiveness through natural biological mechanisms such as antagonism, competition, and induction of host resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies biological control agents by selecting or engineering them to tolerate crop protection chemicals. This parameter change enables the biocontrol agents to survive and function in environments where chemicals are applied, combining the benefits of both chemical and biological control methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If biological control agents are used to manage plant diseases and pests, then pesticide resistance management is improved, but the agents cannot compete effectively in field conditions with herbicides and fungicides present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects or engineers biological control agents to tolerate crop protection chemicals, changing their sensitivity parameter. This enables them to survive and thrive in chemically treated fields, maintaining their biocontrol function while adapting to conventional farming practices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an intermediary form of biocontrol agent that bridges the gap between chemical and biological control systems. These modified agents can coexist with chemical pesticides while providing biological control functions, serving as a mediator between the two approaches.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-resistant biological control agents are applied in soils treated with herbicides and fungicides, then the agents are eliminated by the chemicals, but the use of resistant modified agents enables them to grow and reproduce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical sensitivity parameter of biological control agents through selection or engineering processes. This parameter change confers resistance to crop protection chemicals, enabling the agents to survive and function in chemically treated environments.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. By improving the population of biological agents, the modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. In particular, modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations of biological agents can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause promoting plant growth. Therefore, the present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Compositions of the invention include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or as a seed coating for plants and seeds.