IP Library Granted Patent US 12,679,785
Granted Patent B2
US 12,679,785 · App. 17/877,905 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Microbe-based products for enhancing plant root and immune health

Inventors: Paul S. Zorner (Encinitas, CA); Sean Farmer (Ft. Lauderdale, FL); Ken Alibek (Solon, OH); Samal Ibragimova (Solon, OH)
Assignee: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
C05F11/08A01N63/20A01N63/22A01N63/38C05G5/27
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,679,785
App. No.
17/877,905
Filed
Jul 30, 2022
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Examiner
PIPIC, ALMA
Art Unit
1617
USPC
504/117
Abstract

Compositions and methods are provided for enhancing plant immunity, health, growth and yields using a combination of microbes and/or their growth by-products. Specifically, the subject invention enhances plant health, growth and/or yields using a combination of a Trichoderma spp. fungus and a Bacillus spp. bacterium. Specifically, in one embodiment, the subject invention utilizes Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Claims (17)

1 . A soil treatment composition for enhancing plant immunity, health, growth and/or yield, the composition comprising a first microorganism and a second microorganism, and/or a growth by-product of the first and/or second microorganism, wherein the first microorganism and the second microorganism are both non-pathogenic, spore-forming microorganisms; and wherein the first microorganism is Trichoderma harzianum and the second microorganism is Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-67928.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional microorganisms selected from Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Rhizobium spp., Myxococcus xanthus, Azotobacter vinelandii , and Frateuria aurantia.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , comprising 1×10 6 to 1×10 12 CFU/mL of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-67928.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , comprising 1×10 9 CFU/mL of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-67928.

5 . A method of enhancing plant immunity, health, growth and/or yield, wherein the method comprises applying a soil treatment composition according to claim 1 to a plant and/or its surrounding environment, and, optionally, applying nutrients and/or prebiotics for microbial growth.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the soil treatment composition is applied to the plant and/or its surroundings using an irrigation system.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the soil treatment composition is applied to the plant and/or its surrounding environment alongside a source of one or more nutrients selected from nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plant has compromised immune health due to an infection from a pathogenic agent or due to an environmental stressor.

9 . The method of claim 8 , used to improve the immune health of the plant.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plant is a citrus plant affected by citrus greening disease and/or citrus canker disease.

11 . The method of claim 5 , used to improve one or more qualities of soil.

12 . The method of claim 11 , used to improve nutrient retention in depleted soil.

13 . The method of claim 5 , used to enhance nutrient absorption in plant roots.

14 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plant is a crop plant.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the crop plant is selected from citrus, tomato, sod, potato, sugarcane, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, almond, onion, carrot, berries and cotton.

16 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the soil treatment composition is sprayed onto the plant and/or its surrounding environment using a handheld lawn and garden sprayer.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the method is used for home and garden applications.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS MANAGEMENT GP, INC.; LOCUS MANAGEMENT, LLC; LOCUS IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS OIL HOLDING, LLC,; LOCUS BIO-ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE HOLDING, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC,; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPHOLDCO, LLC; LOCUS CONSUMER BRANDS HOLDING, LLC; ARCTIVA WELLNESS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069386/0272 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069333/0911 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 069273/0361 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2023
From: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065836/0868 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 065615/0849 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: LOCUS SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS MANAGEMENT GP, INC.; LOCUS MANAGEMENT, LLC; LOCUS IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS OIL HOLDING, LLC; LOCUS BIO-ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE HOLDING, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPHOLDCO, LLC; LOCUS CONSUMER BRANDS HOLDING, LLC; ARCTIVA WELLNESS, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062079/0829 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2022
From: LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 061964/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2022
From: ZORNER, PAUL S; FARMER, SEAN; ALIBEK, KEN; IBRAGIMOVA, SAMAL
To: LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 060752/0908 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16461295 · May 8, 2019
Provisional Application 62719758 · Aug 20, 2018
Provisional Application 62668316 · May 8, 2018
Related Publication 20220363607A1 · Nov 17, 2022
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