Modified Biological Control Agents That Survive Crop Protection Chemicals
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of resistance to chemical pesticides poses a challenge in crop protection, necessitating the need for biological control agents that can compete effectively in the presence of herbicides and fungicides and enhance plant health and yield.
Innovation Solution
Modified biological control agents, such as Pseudomonas strains, are engineered or selected to be resistant to herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protection chemicals, allowing them to thrive in agricultural environments and suppress plant pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical pesticides are used to control plant diseases and pests, then crop protection and yield are improved, but pesticide resistance develops and health/environmental risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies biological control agents by introducing genetic resistance to crop protection chemicals, fundamentally changing their parameter of chemical susceptibility. This allows the agents to survive and function in chemically treated environments, maintaining biocontrol effectiveness while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite biological control agents that combine natural biocontrol properties with acquired resistance to multiple crop protection chemicals. These composite agents function as multi-functional entities that can operate in complex agricultural environments containing various chemicals.
2Reliability
If biological control agents are used to manage plant diseases and pests, then pesticide resistance management is improved, but the agents cannot compete in the presence of herbicides and fungicides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically changes the chemical susceptibility parameters of biological control agents by introducing resistance genes. This allows them to adapt to and compete in field conditions where crop protection chemicals are present, while maintaining their biocontrol functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The modified biological control agents acquire multi-functionality by combining their natural pathogen suppression capabilities with resistance to multiple classes of crop protection chemicals. This universal adaptability allows them to function effectively across diverse agricultural environments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-resistant biological control agents are applied in soils with crop protection chemicals, then the agents are inhibited or killed, but crop protection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of crop protection chemicals into a beneficial selective pressure that enriches the biological control agent population. By exposing agents to these chemicals during selection or growth, resistant strains are enriched that can then function as effective biocontrol agents in chemically treated fields.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical tolerance parameter of biological control agents from sensitive to resistant through genetic modification or selective enrichment. This parameter change enables them to not only survive but thrive in soils containing crop protection chemicals, maintaining crop protection efficacy.
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.