Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same
The present disclosure provides non-aqueous inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial spores in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise microbial spores, one or more dispersants, one or more protectants and a non-aqueous liquid carrier.
1. A non-aqueous inoculant composition comprising microbial spores, one or more polyethylene glycols, a polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer, and at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of vinylpyrrolidone polymers, alcohol ethoxylates and naphthalene sulfonates.
2. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise about 0.1% to about 50% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
3. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise about 5% to about 25% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
4. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise about 10 1 to about 10 15 colony-forming units per gram and/or milliliter of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
5. The non-aqueous inoculant composition claim 1 , wherein said microbial spores comprise Bacillus spores, Gliocladium spores, Glomus spores, Metarhizium spores, Penicillium spores and/or Trichoderma spores.
6. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more polyethylene glycols comprise about 75% to about 95% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
7. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said one or more polyethylene glycols comprise PEG 200, PEG 300 and/or PEG 400.
8. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein a vinylpyrrolidone polymer comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
9. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein a vinylpyrrolidone polymer comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
10. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein a naphthalene sulfonates comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
11. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein a naphthalene sulfonates comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said non-aqueous inoculant composition.
12. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said non-aqueous inoculant composition further comprises a sugar alcohol.
13. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said non-aqueous inoculant composition further comprises a disaccharide.
14. A The non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 1 , comprising at least one vinylpyrrolidone polymer, at least one alcohol ethoxylate and at least one naphthalene sulfonate.
15. The non-aqueous liquid inoculant composition of claim 14 ,
wherein said at least one polyethylene glycol comprises about 75% to about 95% (by weight) of said inoculant composition,
wherein said at least one polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer comprises about 0.1% to about 5% (by weight) of said inoculant composition,
wherein said at least one vinylpyrrolidone polymer comprises about 1% to about 10% (by weight) of said inoculant composition,
wherein said at least one alcohol ethoxylate comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said inoculant composition, and
wherein said at least one naphthalene sulfonate comprises about 0.001% to about 1% (by weight) of said inoculant composition.
16. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dispersant comprises a vinylpyrrolidone polymer.
17. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dispersant comprises an alcohol ethoxylate.
18. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dispersant comprises a naphthalene sulfonate.
19. A method comprising contacting a plant or plant propagation material with the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 .
20. A composition comprising a plant seed that is at least partially coated with the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 .
21. A method comprising introducing the composition of claim 20 into a plant growth medium.