Strobilurin Degrading Bacteria Bioremediation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for bioremediation of strobilurin fungicides in agriculture are costly, ineffective, and generate persistent or toxic metabolites, with limited availability of strobilurin-degrading bacteria, especially from plant sources, necessitating new approaches for reducing strobilurin residues on plants and in soils.

Innovation Solution

Application of specific plant-associated bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis MK101, Rhodococcus fascians MK144, and Pseudomonas kermanshahensis MK113, or their 16S rRNA sequence variants, to degrade strobilurin fungicides on plant surfaces and in soils, potentially combined with other microorganisms and bioorganic fertilizers, to reduce strobilurin residues effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If physical treatments (adsorption, percolator filters) or chemical treatments (advanced oxidation, photodegradation) are used for bioremediation, then strobilurin contamination can be reduced, but the methods are cost-ineffective, monitoring-intensive, and generate more persistent or toxic metabolites

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrobilurin contaminationVSAvoidpersistent or toxic metabolites
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using strobilurin fungicides as a selective trigger to enrich and isolate specific bacterial strains capable of degrading the compound. The harmful pesticide residue serves as a food source that selects for beneficial degrader bacteria, converting the harmful presence of strobilurin into a beneficial selection pressure for obtaining pure degrading strains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of degradation completeness by moving from incomplete degradation (producing persistent metabolites) to complete mineralization. The isolated bacterial strains achieve complete degradation of strobilurin into harmless products (CO2, H2O, mineral salts), eliminating the problem of persistent or toxic metabolites generated by conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional bioremediation methods are used, then strobilurin can be degraded to some extent, but the methods are expensive and only operate as ex situ clean-up technologies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrobilurin residueVSAvoidcost-effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by developing a cost-effective in situ bioremediation system using naturally occurring or easily cultivatable bacteria. The method requires no expensive equipment or complex monitoring systems - simply applying bacterial inoculum to contaminated soil allows the system to clean itself through natural microbial degradation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive mechanical/chemical treatment systems (percolator filters, advanced oxidation units) with a biological system. The mechanical and chemical infrastructure is substituted by living bacteria that perform degradation through metabolic processes, dramatically reducing equipment costs and enabling in situ application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If only a limited number of strobilurin-degrading bacteria have been isolated from soil or sludge, then the available microbial resources are scarce, but there is a need for more diverse sources especially from plants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of degrading bacteria isolatedVSAvoidsource diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the search for degrading bacteria into different ecological niches - specifically separating soil/sediment sources from plant-associated sources. This systematic segmentation of sampling locations revealed previously unknown plant-associated bacterial strains (such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus species) that degrade strobilurin, expanding the overall diversity of known degraders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent demonstrates universality by showing that strobilurin-degrading capability is not limited to specific environmental compartments (soil, water, sludge) but is found across multiple habitats including plant surfaces and rhizospheres. This multi-functional distribution of degraders across different ecological zones indicates a widespread biological capability that can be harnessed for various bioremediation applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 described method effectively degrades strobilurin residues on plants and in soils, meeting regulatory standards for organic food production and providing a sustainable solution for bioremediation, with demonstrated degradation rates of up to 90% in greenhouse tests.

Implementation Method 1

The invention relates to the degradation of strobilurin using plant-associated microorganisms

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiological decomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP4430948A1Strobilurin degrading bacteria and compositions
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 MULTIKRAFT PROD- & HANDELS GMBH
  • EP4430948A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4430948A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4430948A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to the degradation of strobilurin using plant-associated microorganisms, methods of reducing the strobilurin content of or on plants and/or soil, especially crop plants and compositions comprising strobilurin degrading plant-associated microorganisms.