BACTERIAL SPORE COMPOSITIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL USES
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a plant or plant part coated with a composition comprising a bacterial spore and a germinative compound. In another aspect the present invention is directed to a method of enhancing the growth of a plant or plant part comprising coating such plant or plant part with such a composition. In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a composition comprising a bacterial spore and a germinative compound where such components are maintained in an inactive form. The present invention also relates to use of the compositions in wastewater treatment, environmental remediation, oil recovery, aquaculture systems, and direct fed microbials.
1 . A plant or plant part coated with a composition comprising:
a) a bacterial spore; and
b) a germinative compound.
2 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the spore and the germinative compound are maintained in an inactive form such that the germinative compound will not induce germination of the spore until the composition is subjected to an activation environment.
3 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a substance which prohibits the bacterial spore and the germinative compound from interacting until the composition is subjected to an activation environment.
4 . The plant or plant part of claim 3 , wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a sequestering agent, a plasticizer, a colorant, a dye, a brightener, an emulsifier, a flow agent, a coalescing agent, a defoaming agent, a thickener, a wax, a bactericide, a filler, a polymer, a wetting agent, and an anti-freezing agent.
5 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises an intimate mixture of the bacterial spore and the germinative compound, wherein the bacterial spore and the germinative compound are maintained in proximate position until they reach an environment conducive to germination.
6 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the plant or plant part is a seed.
7 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the plant or plant part is a plant propagative material.
8 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial spore is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus agri, Bacillus aizawai, Bacillus albolactis, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus butanolivorans, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus endoparasiticus, Bacillus endorhythmos, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus kurstaki, Bacillus lacticola, Bacillus lactimorbus, Bacillus lactis, Bacillus laterosporus, Bacillus lentimorbus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus medusa, Bacillus metiens, Bacillus mojavensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus natto, Bacillus nigrificans, Bacillus popillae, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus simplex, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus spp., Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus unifagellatus, Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium butyricum, Pasteuria penetrans, Pasteuria thornei, Pasteuria nishizawae and a species of the genus Streptomyces.
9 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the germinative compound is selected from the group consisting of fructose, glucose, potassium, L-alanine, L-valine, L-proline, L-leucine, L-cysteine, L-threonine, L-glutamine, L-asparagine, L-phenylalanine, and analogues thereof.
10 . The plant or plant part of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial spore is selected from the group consisting of B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. firmus, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, and B. pumilus; and the germinative compound is selected from the group consisting of L-alanine, L-valine and L-asparagine.
11 . A method of enhancing a yield-related trait in a plant or plant part comprising treating the plant or plant part with a composition comprising:
a) a bacterial spore; and
b) a germinative compound,
wherein the yield-related trait of the plant or plant part is enhanced relative to the yield-related trait of a corresponding plant or plant part that is not coated with said composition.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the spore and the germinative compound are maintained in an inactive form such that the germinative compound will not induce germination of the spore until the composition is subjected to an activation environment.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises a substance which prohibits the bacterial spore and the germinative compound from interacting until the composition is subjected to an activation environment.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a sequestering agent, a plasticizer, a colorant, a dye, a brightener, an emulsifier, a flow agent, a coalescing agent, a defoaming agent, a thickener, a wax, a bactericide, a filler, a polymer, a wetting agent, and an anti-freezing agent.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition comprises an intimate mixture of the bacterial spore and the germinative compound, wherein the bacterial spore and the germinative compound are maintained in proximate position until they reach an environment conducive to germination.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant or plant part is a plant propagative material.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant or plant part is a seed.
18 . The method of claim 11 wherein the bacterial spore is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus agri, Bacillus aizawai, Bacillus albolactis, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus butanolivorans, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus endoparasiticus, Bacillus endorhythmos, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus kurstaki, Bacillus lacticola, Bacillus lactimorbus, Bacillus lactis, Bacillus laterosporus, Bacillus lentimorbus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus medusa, Bacillus metiens, Bacillus mojavensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus natto, Bacillus nigrificans, Bacillus popillae, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus simplex, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus spp., Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus unifagellatus, Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium butyricum, Pasteuria penetrans, Pasteuria thornei, Pasteuria nishizawae and Streptomyces species.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the germinative compound is selected from the group consisting of fructose, glucose, potassium, L-alanine, L-valine, L-proline, L-leucine, L-cysteine, L-threonine, L-glutamine, L-asparagine, L-phenylalanine and analogues thereof.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the bacterial spore is selected from the group consisting of B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. firmus, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, and B. pumilus; and the germinative compound is selected from the group consisting of L-alanine, L-valine and L-asparagine.