Abstract: This invention describes discovery and development of a biological system of plant growth promotion and environmental improvement by carbon sequestration and/or nitrogen utilization by application of a microbial agent, e.g., a highly effective strain of T. viride, particularly strains NRRL B-50520 and/or K5. This strain outperforms the best current strains of Trichoderma used for this purpose available commercially. The highly active products also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products. The invention also describes and demonstrates that strain combinations including Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS2 or AS3, as well as disclosed metabolites, promote plant growth. This is true across monocots and dicots, seed treatments and foliar sprays.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a biological system of plant growth promotion, pest resistance and disease resistance by application of strains of T. viride, Trichoderma harzianum K2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS3, or a combination thereof. These strains can be used in conventional or organic agriculture for the promotion nematode resistance when applied topically as a foliar spray or as a seed coating. The highly active strains also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a functionalized particle having at its core a porous particle that acts as a structured support element. This porous particle is surrounded by a protective sealant layer encasing the porous particle. The particle includes a plurality of pores holding a first beneficial agricultural component. The functionalized particle can also include a plurality of functionalized molecules embedded in the sealant layer. The functionalized molecules comprise a base material, comprising an active agricultural component or an inactive material, and an active second beneficial agricultural component. The functionalized molecules can all contain the same base material and the same active second beneficial agricultural component or a mixture of different base materials and a mixture of second beneficial agricultural components. The first and second beneficial agricultural components can either be single components or a mixture of components and may be the same or different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method to identify an origin of one or more products by comparing its microbial composition to known location microbiomes present in a database. The microbiome associated with a single location, such as a farm, should have common elements that differ from all other farms due to a variety of factors including on-farm livestock mix, human inhabitants, soil, water sources, local plant life, climate and weather patterns, local wildlife and native insects, etc. Further inclusion of the microbiome present all along the entire processing and distribution chain will be unique and identifiable due to similar factors as listed above. Methods for metagenomic and microbiome analyses have dramatically improved, making the application of this technology to agricultural product identification and safety a realistic endeavor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to compositions, methods and systems entailing one or more microbial agents' or their derivatives being applied to crop plants such that changes in. plant gene expression are induced that either mitigate or leverage the effects of an applied agricultural chemical including induction of herbicide resistance on an otherwise herbicide susceptible plant. The present disclosure allows for the use of. non-GMO plants in combination with microbial agents or derivatives that signal the plant to combat the effects of the herbicide. Thus, possible transfer of herbicide. resistance genes to weed populations is. elini&tated. and the use of different microbe-herbicide combinations an sequential crops, resulting in the ability to improve the usefulness of a given herbicide.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a biological system of plant growth promotion, pest resistance and disease resistance by application of strains of T. viride, Trichoderma harzianum K2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS3, or a combination thereof. These strains can be used in conventional or organic agriculture for the promotion nematode resistance when applied topically as a foliar spray or as a seed coating. The highly active strains also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods entailing one or more microbial treatments being applied to crop plants such that changes in plant gene expression and microbiome alteration are induced that stabilize the performance of the treated plant. The present disclosure allows for the use of non-GMO plants in combination with microbial agents or derivatives that signal the plant to upregulate certain gene expression. Thus, reduction of field variability, reduction of plant microbiome diversity, stabilization of plant gene expression, stabilization of yields and stabilization of harvest quality are achieved.

Abstract: This invention describes discovery and development of a biological system of plant growth promotion and environmental improvement by carbon sequestration and/or nitrogen utilization by application of a microbial agent, e.g., a highly effective strain of T. viride, particularly strains NRRL B-50520 and/or K5. This strain outperforms the best current strains of Trichoderma used for this purpose available commercially. The highly active products also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products. The invention also describes and demonstrates that strain combinations including Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS2 or AS3, as well as disclosed metabolites, promote plant growth. This is true across monocots and dicots, seed treatments and foliar sprays.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to compositions and methods for applying a biological tag to a product and detection of the biological tag on the product by another. The compositions and methods are useful for tracing the provenance of a product, such as a food product or an agricultural product.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a herbicide resistant N2-fixing microorganism and to a method for enhancing N2 fixation by the herbicide resistant rhizobia in symbiosis with herbicide resistant or tolerant leguminous plants treated with herbicide. At least one preferred embodiment comprises mutant rhizobia strains selected based on tolerance of the broad spectrum glyphosate weed control agent, originally Roundup®. Preferred embodiments can be expected to outcompete both indigenous soil rhizobia and/or commercial rhizobia that are not resistant to the herbicide.