Microbe-Based Products for Enhancing Growth and Phytocannabinoid Content of Cannabis
Compositions and methods are provided for enhancing plant health, growth, yields and/or CBD content of Cannabis plants using a combination of microbes and/or their growth by-products. Specifically, in one embodiment, the subject invention utilizes Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-67928.
1 . A method of enhancing health, growth, yields and/or phytocannibinoid content of a Cannabis spp. plant, the method comprising:
applying a soil treatment composition comprising one or more soil-colonizing microorganisms, and/or a growth by-product thereof, to the plant and/or its surrounding environment, wherein the one or more microorganisms are selected from Bacillus spp., Trichoderma spp., Pleurotus spp., Saccharomyces spp., Debaryomyces spp., Lentinula spp., Wickerhamomyces spp., Starmerella spp., Meyerozyma spp., Pseudomonas spp., Pichia spp., Azotobacter spp., Frateuria spp., Myxococcus spp., and mycorrhizal fungi.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soil treatment composition further comprises fermentation medium in which the one or more microorganisms were cultivated.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soil treatment composition comprises Trichoderma harzianum or Trichoderma guizhouse.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soil treatment composition comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soil treatment composition comprises Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-67928.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the soil treatment composition comprises a cell count ratio of 1:4, Trichoderma to Bacillus.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms are selected from Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma guizhouse, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Saccharomyces boulardii, Debaryomyces hansenii, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Myxococcus xanthus, Azotobacter vinelandii and Frateuria aurantia.
8 . (canceled)
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are contacted directly with the plant's roots.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are contacted with soil in which the plant grows.
11 . (canceled)
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are applied to the plant and/or its surrounding environment using an irrigation system.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are applied to the plant and/or its surrounding environment contemporaneously with a source of one or more nutrients selected from nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are applied to the plant and/or its surrounding environment contemporaneously with prebiotics selected from kelp extract, fulvic acid, chitin, humate and humic acid.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof are not applied simultaneously with, or within 7 to 10 days before or after, application of benomyl, dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, hydrogen dioxide/peroxyacetic acid, imazilil, propiconazole, tebuconazole, or triflumizole to the plant and/or its surrounding environment.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Cannabis spp. plant is selected from Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Cannabis spp. plant is a variety of Cannabis sativa that has a tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) content of 0.3% (dry weight) or less.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cannabidiol (CBD) content of the Cannabis spp. plant is increased.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more qualities of the Cannabis spp. plant selected from plant height, plant width, bud size, bud count, root size, root mass, and mass of dry bud material is increased.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of fiber harvested from the Cannabis spp. plant is increased.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein nutrient absorption in the Cannabis spp. plant roots is enhanced.
22 . The method of claim 1 , used for enhanced production of industrial hemp-derived products selected from CBD extracts, beauty products, fibers, textiles, plastic alternatives, supplements, protein powders, and biofuels.