Saccharide-Stimulated Mycorrhizal Inoculum Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional agricultural practices face limitations in using mycorrhizal fungi due to high costs of mycorrhizal inoculum production and inefficiencies in mycorrhizal development in soils with high phosphorus and nitrogen residues, limiting their application in field crops.

Innovation Solution

The use of low concentrations of monosaccharides and disaccharides, such as glucose and fructose, to stimulate mycorrhization and increase mycorrhizal inoculum production, allowing for cost-effective production and improved mycorrhizal development even in soils with high phosphate concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional methods are used for mycorrhizal inoculum production, then mycorrhization can occur in plants, but the production cost is high and efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemycorrhizal inoculum production efficiencyVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the culture medium by adding specific monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose) and disaccharides (sucrose, maltose, lactose) at optimized concentrations (0.1-10 g/L). This parameter modification stimulates mycorrhizal fungal development, increases spore production, and improves colonization efficiency, thereby resolving the contradiction between production efficiency and cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If mycorrhizal fungi are applied to soils with high phosphorus and nitrogen residues, then plant growth can be supported, but mycorrhizal development is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant growth supportVSAvoidmycorrhizal development efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies monosaccharides and disaccharides to the culture medium before mycorrhizal inoculum application. This preliminary action primes the fungal culture, enhancing its metabolic activity and colonization capability. As a result, the mycorrhizal fungi can effectively develop and function even in soils with high phosphorus and nitrogen residues, maintaining both plant growth support and development efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If monosaccharides and disaccharides are used to stimulate mycorrhization, then mycorrhizal development and plant yield are enhanced, but the concentration must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant yieldVSAvoidsaccharide concentration control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a range of saccharide concentrations (0.1-10 g/L) rather than a single precise value, allowing for partial optimization. This range provides sufficient stimulation for mycorrhizal development and plant yield enhancement while accommodating normal variations in application conditions, thereby reducing the stringency of concentration control requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2982241B1A method of mycorrhization of plants and use of saccharides in mycorrhization
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 INOQ
  • EP2982241B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2982241B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2982241B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates in a first aspect to the use of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides for the stimulation of mycorrhization in plants as well as of the production of mycorrhizal inoculum. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides, optionally, in combination with mycorrhizal inoculum for increasing the germination rates of plants or for yield of the plants. In addition, methods for the production of mycorrhizal inoculum as well as for the treatment of plants, in particular crops, is provided. Finally, the present invention relates to a kit or composition for stimulation of plant mycorrhization, for the production of mycorrhizal inoculum, for increasing the germination rate of plants and/or yield of the plants containing monosaccharides and/or disaccharides as well as mycorrhizal inoculum.