Treatment of seed and plants with useful bacteria
An isolate of useful bacteria, preferably of the genus Pseudomonas , preferably of the species Proradix , is used for the treatment of plants and/or seed and incubated in a culture medium containing phosphorus compounds, nitrogen compounds and succinic acid. The solution can be used directly for spraying plants and/or seed, optionally followed by vacuum treatment. Furthermore, the solution can be vacuum-dried, the powder being dissolved in water prior to use.
1. Pseudomonas isolated strain termed Proradix , which was deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on Mar. 11, 1999 at the DSMZ, 38124 Braunschweig, under the Accession number PRORADIX -DSM 13134.
2. A method for the preparation of a solution for the treatment of plants or seed, comprising the steps of:
a) providing an isolate of the genus Pseudomonas,
b) providing a culture medium containing phosphorus compounds, nitrogen compounds and succinic acid,
c) inoculating the culture medium with the isolate, and
d) incubating the culture medium at approximately 26-32° C. with gentle shaking for at least 50 hours,
wherein the bacterium is Pseudomonas strain Proradix (DSM 13134) of claim 1 .
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, after incubation, the solution is vacuum-dried to prepare a powder.
4. A powder prepared by the method of claim 3 .
5. A method for treating seed or plants, comprising the steps of:
a) dissolving the powder of claim 4 in water, and
b) spraying or immersion treatment of the seed or of seed potatoes with the solution of step a) or pouring the solution of step a) over young plants.
6. A method for treating plants or seed comprising the step of treating the plants or seed with the Pseudomonas strain Proradix of claim 1 .
7. Seed or plants treated by the method of claim 5 ; whereby the seed or plants contains an effective amount of the Pseudomonas strain of claim 1 which contributes to an improved quality of the seed or plants.
8. Seed or plants treated by the method of claim 6 ; whereby the strain forms a protective storable mixture on the seed or plants.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the culture medium contains K 2 HPO 4 , KH 2 PO 4 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , MgSO 4 and succinic acid.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the culture medium contains glucose.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the culture medium contains approximately 6.0 g of K 2 HPO 4 , approximately 3.0 g of KH 2 PO 4 , approximately 1.5 g of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , approximately 0.2 g of MgSO 4 , approximately 2.0 g of glucose and approximately 4.0 g of succinic acid in approximately 1000 ml of deionized H 2 O.
12. A solution prepared by the method of claim 2 .
13. A method of treating seed or plants, comprising the steps of:
a) moistening the seed or plants with the solution of claim 12 ,
b) applying a sub-atmospheric pressure to the seed or plants moistened above, and
c) releasing the sub-atmospheric pressure.