IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,624,333
Granted Patent B2
US 12,624,333 · App. 16/471,644 · Granted May 12, 2026

Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same

Inventors: Kenneth Edmund Kellar (Fuquay-Varina, NC); Megan Fruchte (Durham, NC); Mike Jerry Schweiner (Durham, NC); Jarrod Leland (Blacksburg, VA); Anna Wysinski (Roanoke, VA); Emily Looze (Bedford, VA); Kimberley Clarke (Durham, NC); William Pasutti (Durham, NC)
Assignee: NOVOZYMES BIOAG A/S
C12N1/04A01N43/80A01N63/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,624,333
App. No.
16/471,644
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides stable inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microorganisms in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, the microorganisms in an inoculant compositions are stabilized by the presence of one or more sugar alcohols, humic acids and/or fulvic acids and one or more maltodextrins, monosaccharides, disaccharides, oxidation control components and/or UV protectants.

Claims (22)

1 . An aqueous liquid inoculant composition comprising one or more sugar alcohols, one or more disaccharides, one or more maltodextrins having an average dextrose equivalent value of about 15 to about 20, and one or more Gram-negative, non-spore-forming microorganisms, wherein said sugar alcohol(s), disaccharide(s), and maltodextrin(s) are present in a sugar alcohol:(disaccharide and maltodextrin) ratio of about 15:85 to about 25:75.

2 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more sugar alcohols comprises sorbitol.

3 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more sugar alcohols comprises xylitol.

4 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more disaccharides comprise maltose.

5 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said sugar alcohol(s), disaccharide(s), and maltodextrin(s) are present in a sugar wherein said sugar alcohol(s), disaccharide(s), and maltodextrin(s) are alcohol:(disaccharide and maltodextrin) ratio of about 20:80.

6 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said maltodextrin(s) and said sugar alcohol(s) are present in a maltodextrin:sugar alcohol ratio of about 25:75.

7 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , comprising about 1×10 1 to about 1×10 12 colony-forming units of said Gram-negative, non-spore-forming microorganisms per gram and/or milliliter of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition.

8 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , comprising at least 1×10 4 colony-forming units of said Gram-negative, non-spore-forming microorganisms per gram and/or milliliter of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition.

9 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more carboxymethyl celluloses and/or polyvinyl alcohols.

10 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more sugar alcohols, said one or more disaccharides, and said one or more maltodextrins comprise about 25 to about 50% of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition (w/w, based upon the total weight of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition).

11 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , further comprising one more lipo-chitooligosaccharides.

12 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more sugar alcohols, said one or more disaccharides and said one or more maltodextrins collectively comprise about 5 to about 25% of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition (w/w, based upon the total weight of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition).

13 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more sugar alcohols, said one or more disaccharides, and said one or more maltodextrins collectively comprise about 1 to about 10% of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition (w/w, based upon the total weight of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition).

14 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more humic acids.

15 . The aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more sugar alcohols, said one or more disaccharides, and said one or more maltodextrins collectively comprise about 0.25 to about 5% of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition (w/w, based upon the total weight of said aqueous liquid inoculant composition).

16 . A method, comprising applying the aqueous liquid inoculation composition of claim 1 to a plant propagation material.

17 . A method, comprising applying the aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 to a plant.

18 . A coated plant propagation material, comprising a plant propagation material and a coating that covers at least a portion of an outer surface of said seed, said coating comprising the aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 .

19 . A method, comprising applying the aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 to foliage.

20 . A method, comprising drying the aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 to produce a powder or granule comprising said one or more Gram-negative, non-spore-forming microorganisms, said one or more sugar alcohols, said one or more disaccharides, and said one or more maltodextrins.

21 . A method of improving the stability of a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming microorganism in an aqueous composition, said method comprising introducing into said aqueous composition one or more sugar alcohols, one or more disaccharides and one or more maltodextrins having an average dextrose equivalent value of about 15 to about 20 in a sugar alcohol:(disaccharide and maltodextrin) ratio of about 15:85 to about 25:75.

22 . The method of 21 , further comprising drying said aqueous composition after said introducing to produce a powder or granule comprising said Gram-negative, non-spore-forming microorganism, said one or more sugar alcohols, said one or more disaccharides, and said one or more maltodextrins.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Oct 7, 2024
From: NOVOZYMES BIOAG A/S
To: NOVONESIS PLANT BIOSOLUTIONS A/S
Reel/Frame 070166/0088 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2021
From: KELLAR, KENNETH EDMUND; FRUCHTE, MEGAN; SCHWEINER, MICHAEL JERRY; LELAND, JARROD; WYSINSKI, ANNA; LOOZE, EMILY; CLARKE, KIMBERLEY; PASUTTI, WILLIAM
To: NOVOZYMES BIOAG A/S
Reel/Frame 058074/0168 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62436562 · Dec 20, 2016
Provisional Application 62436529 · Dec 20, 2016
Provisional Application 62436517 · Dec 20, 2016
Related Publication 20200085065A1 · Mar 19, 2020
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