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US 4,061,488 AGranted
Plant treating mixtures and methods utilizing spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus
AssigneeHershey Foods Corporation
InventorElton W. Mann
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AssigneeHershey Foods Corporation
InventorElton W. Mann
Estimating the term…
Spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus, s.p.n. (ATCC 15,134) are applied to plant seeds, as by the use of a shaker bag, or adhesively, or applied to the soil adjacent the seed by being commingled with the seed in a drill box. Alternatively, the roots of seedlings or transplanted plants may be dippd in an aqueous suspension of the spores, or in the case of densely populated, established crops, such as strawberries, the spores may be sprayed on the leaves and washed into the soil containing the root systems, or the spores may be worked into the soil adjacent to the rootlets, as in the case of trees. Many plants when treated with this microorganism produce an increase in yield based on total harvested crops, and/or an increase in yield in terms of higher permissive strengths or density of planting, namely more plants per given unit of area, and/or increased resistance to plant diseases. Over-fertilizing with nitrogen yields an increase in protein with oats, corn, wheat, and barley treated with the spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus.
A method for increasing the yield of food crops which comprises treating a food crop yielding plant with a plant treating agent consisting essentially of an effective amount of spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus (ATCC No. 15,134), said spores being applied to the plant in such a manner that the spores will eventually come into contact with exudates produced by the roots of the plant, said plant being one which does not have a single large taproot, with no appreciable branching of the root.
A substantially uniform mixture of a blend consisting essentially of seeds of a plant which upon cultivation yields a food crop and an effective food crop yield-increasing amount of spores of Bacillus uniflatellatus (ATCC No. 15,134).
A mixture useful for the treatment of food crop yielding plants to increase their yield and utilization of their growth potential consisting essentially of a powder of an effective amount of spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus (ATCC No. 15,134) substantially uniformly dispersed on a powdered carrier for said spores, said mixture having no more than ten weight percent water.
A method for increasing the amount of protein derived from a plant selected from the group of plants consisting of wheat, barley, oats, and corn which comprises treating said plant, in a soil containing excess nitrogen over that normally used to cultivate the plant, with a plant treating agent consisting essentially of an effective amount of spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus (ATCC No. 15,134) whereby a crop is obtained which contains a higher weight percentage of protein than is normally obtained, said spores being applied to the plant in such a manner that the spores will eventually come into contact with exudates produced by the roots of the plant.
A method for forming a mixture useful for increasing the yield of food crop yielding plants which comprises blending together ingredients consisting essentially of seeds of a food crop yielding plant, an effective amount of spores of Bacillus uniflagellatus, and an inert adhesive, said inert adhesive being mechanically admixed with the spores and seeds whereby the spores are adhesively secured to the seeds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.