IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,336,534
Granted Patent B2
US 12,336,534 · App. 17/129,004 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Methods and compositions for controlling corn rootworm

Inventors: Marcus Jones (St. Louis, MO); Gregg Bogosian (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: NewLeaf Symbiotics, Inc.
A01N25/04A01N25/00A01N63/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,336,534
App. No.
17/129,004
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides compositions comprising Corn Rootworm (CRW)-active Methylobacterium sp., methods for controlling CRW, and methods of making the compositions. Also provided are isolated CRW-active Methylobacterium sp.

Claims (19)

1. A method for treating a corn plant or corn seed, the comprising applying a composition comprising at least one Methylobacterium selected from the group consisting of NLS0042 deposited as NRRL B-50932, NLS0046 deposited as NRRL B-50929, and NLS0065 deposited as NRRL B-50935 to a corn plant or corn seed, thereby obtaining a treated corn plant or treated corn seed, wherein said Methylobacterium provides for a reduction in CRW damage sustained by a corn plant grown from the treated corn plant or treated corn seed in the presence of the CRW in comparison to CRW damage sustained by a control corn plant grown from an untreated plant or untreated seed in the presence of CRW.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a solid substance with adherent CRW-active Methylobacterium grown thereon or an emulsion having CRW-active Methylobacterium grown therein.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CRW-active Methylobacterium is NLS0042 deposited as NRRL B-50932.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applied composition coats or partially coats the corn seed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction in CRW damage is a reduction in lodging and or corn yield.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises said Methylobacterium at a titer of at least about 5×10 6 colony forming units per milliliter or at least about 5×10 6 colony forming units per gram.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said composition comprises said Methylobacterium at a titer of 5×10 8 colony forming units per milliliter to 3×10 10 colony forming units per milliliter.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said composition comprises said Methylobacterium at a titer of 5×10 8 colony forming units per gram to 6×10 10 colony forming units per gram.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is an essentially dry product having about 5% or less water content.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is essentially free of contaminating microorganisms.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant, excipient, or combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said agriculturally excipient comprises a clay or inorganic solid selected from the group consisting of calcium bentonite, kaolin, china clay, talc, perlite, mica, vermiculite, silicas, quartz powder, montmorillonite and mixtures thereof.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said agriculturally acceptable adjuvant comprises a wetter/spreader, a sticker, a penetrant, an extender, or a humectant that enhances product efficacy or ease of product application.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to the corn seed in furrow.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition is applied by depositing the composition in furrow at the same time as placing the corn seed in the furrow, or after placing the corn seed in the furrow.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an insecticide that provides for inhibition of CRW growth and/or reductions in CRW-mediated plant damage.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a pesticide.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a population of one or more plant beneficial microorganisms other than Methylobacterium.

19. A treated corn seed obtained by the method of claim 1 , wherein said Methylobacterium is NLS0046 deposited as NRRL B-50929 or NLS0065 deposited as NRRL B-50935.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2021
From: JONES, MARCUS; BOGOSIAN, GREGG
To: NEWLEAF SYMBIOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055018/0634 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15521668
Provisional Application 62068926 · Oct 27, 2014
Related Publication 20210106010A1 · Apr 15, 2021
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