# US 10,945,441 B2 · Methylobacterium compositions and plants, plant parts and seeds coated therewith

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- Number: US 10,945,441 B2
- Document ID: US10945441B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/238,037
- Filed: 2019-01-02
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-04
- Assignees: NewLeaf Symbiotics, Inc.
- Applicants: NewLeaf Symbiotics, Inc.
- Inventors: Rachel DiDonato Floro; Justin Lee; Gregg Bogosian
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945441B2

## CPC

- A01N 63/20: Bacteria; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
- A01N 63/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, animals or substances produced by, or obtained from, microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi or animals, e.g. enzymes or fermentates (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00; unicellular algae A01N65/03)
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention provides both compositions comprising Methylobacterium and compositions comprising Methylobacterium that are depleted of substances that promote growth of resident microorganisms on a lettuce plant or seed. Also provided are methods for improving lettuce production, methods of making the compositions, and methods of treating a lettuce plant or seed with the compositions comprising Methylobacterium.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lettuce plant or plant part that is coated or partially coated with a Methylobacterium-containing composition, wherein said composition comprises Methylobacterium NLS0020, deposited as NRRL B-50930, and wherein application of said Methylobacterium results in a trait improvement that improves lettuce production.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein the Methylobacterium is at a titer of at least about 1×104 colony-forming units per milliliter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises a solid substance with adherent Methylobacterium NLS0020 grown thereon, or an emulsion with Methylobacterium grown therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises Methylobacterium NLS0020 at a titer of about 1×106 CFU/gm to about 1×1014 CFU/gm for a solid composition or at a titer of about 1×106 CFU/mL to about 1×1011 CFU/mL for a liquid composition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant, excipient, or combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 5, wherein said agriculturally acceptable adjuvant is a wetter, a sticker, a penetrant, an extender, or a humectant that enhances product efficacy or ease of product application.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a biopesticidal or otherwise beneficial microorganism other than Methylobacterium NLS0020.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 7, wherein said biopesticidal or otherwise beneficial microorganism is selected from Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus pumilis, Pseudomonas syringae, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma vixens, and Streptomyces lydicus.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a pesticide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 9, wherein said pesticide is selected from an insecticide, a fungicide, a nematocide, and a bacteriocide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The lettuce plant or plant part of claim 1, wherein said trait improvement is selected from an increased rate of leaf growth, an increased rate of root growth, increased total biomass production, increased seed production, decreased cycle time, and combinations thereof, when compared to an untreated control lettuce plant or a control lettuce plant grown from an untreated seed, thereby obtaining improved lettuce in comparison to an untreated control lettuce plant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A lettuce plant part of claim 1 wherein said plant part is a seed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein said composition further comprises a biopesticidal or otherwise beneficial microorganism other than Methylobacterium NLS0020.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein said composition further comprises a pesticide.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The seed of claim 14, wherein said pesticide is selected from an insecticide, a fungicide, a nematocide, and a bacteriocide.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein said composition further comprises an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant, excipient, or combination thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The seed of claim 16, wherein said adjuvant comprises a surfactant, dispersant, anticaking-agent, foam-control agent, or a dye.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein the Methylobacterium is at a titer of at least about 1×106 CFU/gm to about 1×1014 CFU/gm for a solid composition or at a titer of about 1×106 CFU/mL to about 1×1011 CFU/mL for a liquid composition.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein at least 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or about 99.5% of the surface area of the lettuce seed is coated with Methylobacterium NLS0020.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein said trait improvement is selected from an increased rate of leaf growth, an increased rate of root growth, increased total biomass production, increased seed production, decreased cycle time, and combinations thereof, when compared to a control lettuce plant grown from an untreated seed.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The seed of claim 12, wherein said trait improvement is selected from increased seedling wet weight, increased shoot biomass, increased root development, and combinations thereof, when compared to a control lettuce plant grown from an untreated seed.