Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same
The present disclosure provides non-aqueous inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial spores in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise microbial spores, one or more dispersants, one or more protectants and a non-aqueous liquid carrier.
1. A non-aqueous inoculant composition, comprising:
microbial spores;
a polyethylene glycol;
a vinylpyrrolidone polymer; and
a polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer.
2. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise about 0.1% to about 25% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
3. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise about 5% to about 25% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
4. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise about 10 1 to about 10 15 colony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of said inoculant composition.
5. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise Bacillus spores, Gliocladium spores, Glomus spores, Metarhizium spores, Penicillium spores and/or Trichoderma spores.
6. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyethylene glycol comprise about 75% to about 95% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
7. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyethylene glycol is PEG 200, PEG 300 or PEG 400.
8. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more vinylpyrrolidone polymers comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said composition.
9. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more vinylpyrrolidone polymers comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said composition.
10. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sugar alcohols.
11. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 10 , wherein said one more sugar alcohols comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
12. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 10 , wherein said one more sugar alcohols comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
13. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more disaccharides.
14. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 13 , wherein said one or more disaccharides comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
15. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 13 , wherein said one or more disaccharides comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
16. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer comprises about 0.01% to about 25% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
17. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer comprises about 0.1% to about 5% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
18. A non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition, comprising:
microbial spores comprising about 5% to about 25% (by weight) of said inoculant composition; and
a non-aqueous carrier comprising about 75% to about 95% (by weight) of said inoculant composition, said non-aqueous carrier comprising, at least one polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer, at least one polyethylene glycol and at least one vinylpyrrolidone polymer.
19. A method comprising contacting a plant growth medium, a plant propagation material and/or a plant with the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 .
20. A composition comprising a plant seed that is at least partially coated with the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 .
21. A method comprising introducing the composition of claim 20 into a plant growth medium.