IP Library › Granted Patent US 12690595
Granted Patent B2
US 12690595 · App. 18/689,160 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Methylobacterium strains for mitigating methane and methods related thereto

Inventors: Natalie Breakfield (St. Louis, MO); Desmond R. Jimenez (St. Louis, MO); David Flack (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: NewLeaf Symbiotecs, Inc.
A01N63/20A01C1/06A01P21/00C12N1/20C12Y114/13025C12R2001/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12690595
App. No.
18/689,160
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methylobacterium strains that enhance early growth of plants, improve propagation/transplant vigor, increase nutrient uptake, improve stand establishment, improve stress tolerance and/or increase a plant's ability to utilize nutrients are provided herein. Also provided are methods to reduce green-house gas emission and convert methane to methanole with Methylobacterium strains.

Claims (24)

1 . A method for mitigating methane gas in an agricultural field that comprises:

(a) applying a composition to a field, plant, plant part or seed, wherein the composition comprises at least one Methylobacterium comprising a soluble methane monooxygenase enzyme selected from the group consisting of NLS0737, NLS0770, NLS5278, NLS5334, NLS5480, NLS5549, and variants thereof; and,

(b) growing the Methylobacterium whereby the Methylobacterium uses methane as a carbon source;

wherein the use of the methane as the carbon source oxidizes methane and reduces methane emissions in the field.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant, plant part, or seed is rice.

3 . The method of claim 1 , where the composition is applied to a flooded or irrigated rice field.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein application of the composition provides for increased yield of a crop grown in the agricultural field.

5 . A method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more second biological.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more obligate methanotroph.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a second Methylobacteria wherein the second Methylobacteria enhances growth, yield, nutrient update, or nitrogen use efficiency.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the second Methylobacteria is selected from the group consisting of LGP2000 (NRRL B-50929), LGP2001 (NRRL B-50930), LGP2002 (NRRL B-50931), LGP2003 (NRRL B-50932), LGP2004 (NRRL B-50933), LGP2005 (NRRL B-50934), LGP2006 (NRRL B-50935), LGP2007 (NRRL B-50936), LGP2008 (NRRL B-50937), LGP2009 (NRRL B-50938), LGP2010 (NRRL B-50939), LGP2011 (NRRL B-50940), LGP2012 (NRRL B-50941), LGP2013 (NRRL B-50942), LGP2014 (NRRL B-67339), LGP2015 (NRRL B-67340), LGP2016 (NRRL B-67341), LGP2017 (NRRL B-67741), LGP2018 (NRRL B-67742), LGP2019 (NRRL B-67743), LGP2020 (NRRL B-67892), LGP2022 (NRRL B-68033), LGP2167 (NRRL B-67927), LGP2029 (NRRL B-68065), LGP2030 (NRRL B-68066), LGP2031 (NRRL B-68067), LGP2033 (NRRL B-68068), LGP2034 (NRRL B-68069), variants thereof, or a combination thereof.

9 . A method for mitigating methane that comprises:

(a) treating pasture, wasteland, a landfill or waste, or land with livestock feed, with a composition comprising at least one Methylobacterium isolate; and

(b) growing the Methylobacterium in the pasture, wasteland, a landfill or waste, or land with livestock feed, thereby mitigating methane,

Wherein the Methylobacterium is selected from the group consisting of NLS0737, NLS0770, NLS5278, NLS5334, NLS5480, NLS5549, and variants thereof.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Methylobacterium is present in the composition at a concentration of from about 1×10 3 CFU to about 6×10 10 CFU.

11 . A composition comprising a fermentation product comprising a Methylobacterium strain, wherein said fermentation product is essentially free of contaminating microorganisms, and wherein the Methylobacterium strain is selected from the group consisting of NLS0770, NLS0737, NLS5278, NLS5334, NLS5480, NLS5549, and variants thereof.

12 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said composition further comprises a Methylobacterium selected from the group consisting of LGP2000 (NRRL B-50929), LGP2001 (NRRL B-50930), LGP2002 (NRRL B-50931), LGP2003 (NRRL B-50932), LGP2004 (NRRL B-50933), LGP2005 (NRRL B-50934), LGP2006 (NRRL B-50935), LGP2007 (NRRL B-50936), LGP2008 (NRRL B-50937), LGP2009 (NRRL B-50938), LGP2010 (NRRL B-50939), LGP2011 (NRRL B-50940), LGP2012 (NRRL B-50941), LGP2013 (NRRL B-50942), LGP2014 (NRRL B-67339), LGP2015 (NRRL B-67340), LGP2016 (NRRL B-67341), LGP2017 (NRRL B-67741), LGP2018 (NRRL B-67742), LGP2019 (NRRL B-67743), NLS0497 (NRRL B-67925), NLS0693 (NRRL B-67926), NLS1179 (NRRL B-67929), LGP2167 (NRRL B-67927), LGP2020 (NRRL-B-67892), LGP2021 (NRRL-B-68032), LGP2022 (NRRL-B-68033), LGP2023 (NRRL-B-68034), LGP2029 (NRRL B-68065), LGP2030 (NRRL B-68066), LGP2031 (NRRL B-68067), LGP2033 (NRRL B-68068), LGP2034 (NRRL B-68069), and variants thereof.

13 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said composition further comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an additional active ingredient, an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant, and an agriculturally acceptable excipient.

14 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said Methylobacterium comprises a soluble methane monooxygenase.

15 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein the Methylobacterium comprises NLS0737 or NLS0770.

16 . A plant, plant part or seed at least partially coated with the composition of claim 11 .

17 . The plant of claim 16 , wherein said plant is a rice plant.

18 . The composition of claim 11 , which further comprises an obligate methanotroph.