Encapsulation for microbial seed treatment stabilization
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsAnthony D. Duong, Ramanathan S. Lalgudi, Jane P. Fife, Craig M. Bartling, Katarzyna Kucharzyk
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Abstract
An agricultural composition comprises living microorganisms encapsulated in polymer gel microbeads which are applied onto seeds. In another embodiment, an agricultural composition comprises living microorganisms encapsulated in polymer gel macrobeads for planting with seeds in soil. In another embodiment, an agricultural composition comprises living microorganisms immobilized in a polymer gel matrix that is coated on a seed.
Claims9
1-20. (canceled)
An agricultural composition comprising living microorganisms in spherical biopolymer macrobeads at a concentration of 1-5% w/v;
- wherein the spherical macrobeads have been crosslinked with a mixture comprising divalent cations;
- wherein the macrobead diameter is greater than 100 microns and wherein the living microorganisms comprise (1) Bradyrhizobium japonicum or (2) a microorganism that, in the absence of biopolymer, loses 8% or more of its activity at times between 2 and 8 weeks at ambient temperature.
A method of microbead generation from biopolymer macrobeads comprising:
- mixing living microorganisms, biopolymer and amendment,
- extruding droplets of the mixture in crosslinking agent to generate macrobeads, using spray techniques to generate micrometer size microbeads;
- wherein the microbead diameter is less than 100 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.