Fungal formulation for biocontrol of soilborne plant pathogens
AssigneesW. R. Grace & Co.-Conn., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsJack A. Lewis, Douglas Lumsden, George Papavizas, Martha D. Hollenbeck, James F. Walter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fungal biocontrol preparation for control or prevention of plant fungal diseases comprises sporulated fungal biomass, a carrier and acid. The carrier preferably is vermiculite. The biocontrol preparation is resistant to bacterial proliferation in storage and handling and is effective in controlling damping-off diseases caused by soilborne fungal pathogens.
Claims25
A biocontrol preparation for control or prevention of plant fungal diseases which is a mixture of a porous carrier and sporulated biomass of one or more species of fungus effective for control of soilborne plant diseases, said biomass having been grown under liquid fermentation conditions, separated from the fermentation medium, treated with a dilute acid to reduce bacterial contamination, and dried to temporarily inactivate and stabilize the mixture, said biomass/carrier mixture subsequently having been moistened and activated by incubation with dilute acid and a nutrient base for a sufficient time to allow for visible fungal growth prior to applying to soil or growth medium.
A composition useful for the enhancement of plant health consisting of plant seeds coated with a biocontrol preparation which is a mixture of a sporulated biomass of one or more species of fungus effective for control of soilborne plant disease and a porous carrier, said biomass having been grown under liquid fermentation conditions, separate from the fermentation medium, treated with a dilute acid in order to inhibit bacterial proliferation, and dried to temporarily inactivate and stabilize the mixture.
A method of enhancing plant health by applying to the soil or growth medium adjacent to said plant a biocontrol preparation for control or prevention of plant fungal diseases, said biocontrol preparation comprising sporulated biomass of one or more species of fungus effective for control of soilborne plant disease and a porous carrier, said biomass having been grown under liquid fermentation conditions, separated from the fermentation medium, treated with a dilute acid in order to inhibit bacterial proliferation, and dried to temporarily inactivate and stabilize the mixture, said biomass/carrier mixture having been subsequently moistened and activated by incubation with dilute acid and a nutrient base for a sufficient time to allow for visible fungal growth prior to applying to the soil or growth medium.
A method for preparing a biocontrol preparation for control of prevention of plant fungal diseases comprising
- (a) fermenting one or more species of fungus effective for control of soilborne plant diseases in a liquid culture medium until sporulation occurs and resistant spores are produced,
- (b) harvesting the sporulated biomass,
- (c) concentrating the sporulated biomass to separate it from said culture medium,
- (d) treating said biomass with dilute acid at a concentration effective to inhibit bacterial proliferation,
- (e) mixing the biomass/acid mixture of step (d) with a porous carrier,
- (f) drying the carrier/biomass/acid mixture to form a mixture wherein the biomass is inactive and stable indefinitely,
- (g) activating the mixture of step (f) by addition of dilute acid to yield actively-growing mycelium of the biocontrol fungus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.