IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,552,727
Granted Patent B2
US 12,552,727 · App. 18/083,253 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Seed treatment methods and compositions

Inventors: R. Stewart Smith (Salem, VA); Ahsan Habib (Salem, VA); John Kosanke (Brookfield, WI)
Assignee: Novozymes BIOAG A/S
C05F11/08A01C1/06A01N43/16C05C11/00C05F11/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,552,727
App. No.
18/083,253
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising treating seed at least one month prior to planting with an effective amount of a plant signal molecule, wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to plants harvested from untreated seed, or compared to plants harvested from seed treated with the signal molecule just prior to or within a week or less of planting.

Claims (20)

1 . A treated seed, comprising a plant seed that is at least partially coated with a composition comprising a chitin oligomer in an amount effective to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant that germinates from the treated seed, as compared to a control plant grown from an untreated seed.

2 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said chitin oligomer is present in said composition at a concentration of about 10 −14 to about 10 −5 M.

3 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said chitin oligomer is present in said composition at a concentration of at least 10 −7 M.

4 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises one or more phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms.

5 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises one or more diazotrophs.

6 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises one or more mycorrhizal fungi.

7 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises at least one pesticide.

8 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is coated with the composition in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant that germinates from the treated seed when the treated seed is packaged and stored for at least one month prior to planting the treated seed in a plant growth medium.

9 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is coated with the composition in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant that germinates from the treated seed when the treated seed is packaged and stored for at least three months prior to planting the treated seed in a plant growth medium.

10 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is coated with the composition in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant that germinates from the treated seed when the treated seed is packaged and stored for at least six months prior to planting the treated seed in a plant growth medium.

11 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is coated with the composition in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant that germinates from the treated seed when the treated seed is packaged and stored for at least nine months prior to planting the treated seed in a plant growth medium.

12 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is coated with the composition in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant that germinates from the treated seed when the treated seed is packaged and stored for at least twelve months prior to planting the treated seed in a plant growth medium.

13 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is coated with the composition in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant that germinates from the treated seed when the treated seed is packaged and stored for at least twenty-four months prior to planting the treated seed in a plant growth medium.

14 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is leguminous.

15 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a soybean seed.

16 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is non-leguminous.

17 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a cereal seed.

18 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a corn seed.

19 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a wheat seed.

20 . The treated seed of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a cotton seed.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Oct 7, 2024
From: NOVOZYMES BIOAG A/S
To: NOVONESIS PLANT BIOSOLUTIONS A/S
Reel/Frame 070166/0088 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16271976 · Feb 11, 2019
Continuation 14628694 · Feb 23, 2015
Continuation 13608662 · Sep 10, 2012
Provisional Application 61568435 · Dec 8, 2011
Provisional Application 61532234 · Sep 8, 2011
Related Publication 20230117947A1 · Apr 20, 2023
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