Inoculant composition for plants

[2. An inoculant composition for plants, comprising a carrier medium, at least one species of microorganism having a beneficial effect on the plants, and a copolymer of (1) vinyl pyrrolidone and (2) vinyl acetate or styrene or a substituted styrene.]

[3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the plants are legume crops and said microorganism is Rhizobium bacteria.]

[4. The composition of claim 2, wherein said carrier medium is peat.]

[5. The composition of claim 3, wherein said carrier medium is peat.]

[6. The composition of claim 2, wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of viyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate in respective proportions by weight of from 50:50 to 70:30.]

[7. The composition of claim 3, wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate in respective proportions by weight of from 50:50 to 70:30.]

[8. The composition of claim 4, wherein said copolymer is a coplymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate in respective proportions by weight of from 50:50 to 70:30.]

[9. The composition of claim 5, wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate in respective proportions by weight of

• from 50:50 to 70:30.]

A seed having a coating consisting essentially of at least one species of microorganism selected from the group consisting of bacteria of the genera Rhizobium, Bacillus, Azotobacter, Arthrobacter, Pseudomons, Azospirillium, Cyanobacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi having a beneficial effect in the seed or resulting plant, and a copolymer selected from the group consisting of (1) a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate in respective proportions by weight of from 50:50 to 70:30, (2) a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and styrene, and (3) a copolymer of vinyl pyrroldione and a substituted

• styrene.

An inoculant composition for plants, consisting essentially of a carrier medium, at least one species of microorganism selected from the group consisting of bacteria of the genera Rhizobium, Bacillus, Azotobacter, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, Cyanobacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi having a beneficial effect on the plants, and a copolymer selected from the group consisting of (1) a copolymer of vinyl pyrroldione and vinyl acetate in respective proportions by weight of from 50:50 to 0:30, (2) a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and styrene, and (3) a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and a substituted styrene.