# US 11,076,603 B2 · Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,603 B2 - Document ID: US11076603B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/066,377 - Filed: 2016-12-20 - Published: 2019-01-17 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-28 - Assignees: Novozymes Bioag A/S; Monsanto Technology LLC - Applicants: Novozymes Bioag A/S; Monsanto Technology LLC - Inventors: Dave Greenshields; Kristi Woods; Shaun Raj Selness; Hui Han - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076603B2 ## CPC - C12N 1/04: Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms (immobilised microorganisms C12N11/00) - A01N 25/04: Dispersions, {emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates} or gels (foams A01N25/16) - A01N 25/30: characterised by the surfactants - A01N 63/30: Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom - A01N 63/36: Penicillium - C12N 1/14: Fungi (culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00); Culture media therefor - C12N 1/145: Fungi isolates - A01N 2300/00: Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48 - C12R 2001/80: Penicillium - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - 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 - C12R: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C - C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS ## Abstract The present disclosure provides aqueous inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial spores in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, aqueous inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise microbial spores, one or more dispersants, one or more protectants, one or more aqueous additives and a non-aqueous liquid carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aqueous inoculant composition, comprising: Penicillium spores comprising about 0.1 to about 15% by weight of said inoculant composition; one or more protectants comprising about 0.5 to about 5% by weight of said composition, said one or more protectants comprising one or more sugars and/or one or more sugar alcohols; one or more dispersants comprising about 0.1 to about 5% by weight of said composition; one or more aqueous additives comprising about 0.01 to about 5% by weight of said composition; and one or more polyethylene glycols comprising about 75 to about 95% by weight of said inoculant composition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more polyethylene glycols comprises PEG 200, PEG 300 and/or PEG 400. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said Penicillium spores comprise about 1×101 to about 1×1015 colony-forming units, optionally at least 1×101, 1×102, 1×103, 1×104, 1×105, 1×106, 1×107, 1×108, 1×109, 1×1010, 1×1011, 1×1012 colony-forming units. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said Penicillium spores comprise spores of Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 18309, Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 20851, Penicillium bilaiae ATCC 22348, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50162, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50776, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50777, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50778, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50777, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50778, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50779, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50780, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50781, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50782, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50783, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50784, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50785, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50786, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50787, Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50788, Penicillium bilaiae RS7B-SD1, Penicillium brevicompactum AgRF18, Penicillium canescens ATCC 10419, Penicillium expansum ATCC 24692, Penicillium expansum YT02, Penicillium fellatanum ATCC 48694, Penicillium gaestrivorus NRRL 50170, Penicillium glabrum DAOM 239074, Penicillium glabrum CBS 229.28, Penicillium janthinellum ATCC 10455, Penicillium lanosocoeruleum ATCC 48919, Penicillium radicum ATCC 201836, Penicillium radicum FRR 4717, Penicillium radicum FRR 4719, Penicillium radicum N93/47267 and/or Penicillium raistrickii ATCC 10490. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more polyethylene glycols comprises about 80 to about 90% by weight of said inoculant composition, optionally about 80, 80.5, 81, 81.5, 82, 82.5, 83, 83.5, 84, 84.5, 85, 85.5, 86, 86.5, 87, 87.5, 88, 88.5, 89, 89.5 or 90% (by weight) of said inoculant composition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more polyethylene glycols consists essentially of PEG 300. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more protectants comprises about 1 to about 2% by weight of said composition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more protectants comprises: one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose; and/or one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more protectants comprises: one or more disaccharides, optionally maltose, sucrose and/or trehalose, and one or more sugar alcohols, optionally arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol and/or xylitol. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more dispersants comprises about 1 to about 4% by weight of said composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more dispersants comprises: one or more non-ionic surfactants, optionally one or more alcohol ethoxylates; and/or one or more wetting agents, optionally one or more naphthalene sulfonates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more dispersants comprises one or more secondary alcohol ethoxylates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said one or more aqueous additives comprises about 0.5 to about 2.5% by weight of said composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein water comprises at least 0.75% by weight of said composition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said inoculant composition further comprises one or more pesticides. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said inoculant composition further comprises one or more lipo-chitooligosaccharides. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said inoculant composition further comprises one or more chitooligosaccharides. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said inoculant composition further comprises one or more chitinous compounds, optionally one or more chitins and/or one or more chitosans. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said inoculant composition further comprises one or more flavonoids, optionally: one or more flavanones, one or more flavanonols, and/or one or more isoflavonoids. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The inoculant composition of claim 1, wherein said inoculant composition further comprises one or more drying agents. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A plant propagation material at least partially coated on the outer surface with a coating comprising the inoculant composition of claim 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A kit, comprising: the coated plant propagation material of claim 21; and a container housing said coated plant propagation material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A method, comprising applying the inoculation composition of claim 1 to a plant propagation material, optionally a seed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A method, comprising planting the coated plant propagation material of claim 21 in a growth medium, optionally a soil.