COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR REDUCING FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN CROPS
A composition useful for application to plants, seeds or soil to inhibit fungal infections comprising a protein source inoculated with from 5×10 7 cfu to 5×10 9 cfu of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the protein source.
1 . A composition, comprising a protein source and a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain in an amount effective to control fungal growth.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the protein source is a processed protein source.
3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the processed protein source is a processed plant-based protein source.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the protein source is selected from soybean flour or cotton seed meal.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain is at least 10 7 cfu per gram of the protein source.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , comprising from 10 7 cfu to 10 9 cfu of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the protein source.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain has the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 712, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-122189.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain has the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 730, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-124660.
9 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising soil, wherein a combined amount of the protein source and the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain is from greater than zero to 5% of the mass of the soil.
10 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the combined amount of the protein source and the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain is from greater than zero to 0.33% of the mass of the soil.
11 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a seed.
12 . The composition of claim 1 , comprising a seed, soybean flour or cotton seed meal, and from 10 7 cfu to 10 9 cfu of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the soybean flour or cotton seed meal.
13 . A method, comprising inoculating a protein source with an amount of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain effective to control fungal growth.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the protein source is inoculated with from 10 7 cfu to 10 9 cfu of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the protein source;
the protein source is selected from soybean flour or cotton seed meal;
the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain has the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 712, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-122189, or the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 730, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-124660; or
a combination thereof.
15 . A method, comprising applying to a seed, or to soil in which a plant is grown, a composition comprising a processed plant-based protein source and a Bacillus strain.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the composition is added to the soil in which a plant is grown, such that the composition is present in the soil at an amount of from greater than zero to 5% of the mass of the soil.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the composition is added to the soil such that the composition is present in the soil at an amount of from greater than zero to 0.33% of the mass of the soil.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the composition is applied to a seed.
19 . A seed prepared by the method of claim 18 .
20 . The seed of claim 19 , wherein the Bacillus strain is a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain.