Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling corn rootworm damage to corn comprising the step of applying to a corn seed from 103 to 106 colony forming units of one of Beauveria bassiana strain ARSEF 2579 (BF503), Metarhizium pingshaence strain ARSEF 5197 (BF517) or mixtures thereof. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises further combining either BF503 or BF517 with the fungi Trichoderma afroharzianum strain K2 (ATCC PTA-9708) plus Trichoderma atroviride strain K4 (ATCC PTA 9707) and applying it to corn seeds. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises applying at least one of the BF503 or BF517 to a field planted with corn, with the fungi applied into the seed zone. In another aspect of the present disclosure the same field is further treated with both Trichoderma afroharzianum strain K2 (ATCC PTA-9708) plus Trichoderma atroviride strain K4 (ATCC PTA 9707) into the seed zone.

Abstract: This disclosure includes the following components, all intended for the purpose of enhancing plant growth and performance: the capabilities of 1-octen-3-ol, which is a metabolite of Trichoderma strains and formulations thereof, a method for formulating this component or other highly effective compounds into stable formulations, and other materials which are expected to be effective with such components and methods. T. afroharzianum (formerly T. harzianum) produces 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom alcohol) and that at very low concentrations in aerial solution enhances plant growth and productivity, a result that could be duplicated by seed treatments at low concentrations.

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: Disclosed is a method for controlling corn rootworm damage to corn comprising the step of applying to a corn seed from 103 to 106 colony forming units of one of Beauveria bassiana strain ARSEF 2579 (BF503), Metarhizium pingshaence strain ARSEF 5197 (BF517) or mixtures thereof. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises further combining either BF503 or BF517 with the fungi Trichoderma afroharzianum strain K2 (ATCC PTA-9708) plus Trichoderma atroviride strain K4 (ATCC PTA 9707) and applying it to corn seeds. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises applying at least one of the BF503 or BF517 to a field planted with corn, with the fungi applied into the seed zone. In another aspect of the present disclosure the same field is further treated with both Trichoderma afroharzianum strain K2 (ATCC PTA-9708) plus Trichoderma atroviride strain K4 (ATCC PTA 9707) into the seed zone.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to compositions, methods and systems entailing one or more microbial species or microbe derivatives therefrom or combinations of a microbial species plus at least one microbe derivative, in combination with one or more agricultural chemicals such as a fungicide, an insecticide, a nematicide, a bacteriocide, an herbicide or a mixture thereof for application to crops for enhanced growth and performance. The microbial species are preferably selected from the group consisting of Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma afroharzianum, Trichoderma strain K1, Trichoderma strain K2, Trichoderma strain K3, Trichoderma strain K4, Trichoderma strain K5 and mixtures thereof. The microbe derivatives are preferably microbial metabolites selected from the group consisting of 6-pentyl pyrone, harzianic acid, hydtra 1, harzinolide, 1-octene-3-ol and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are shelf stable water miscible suspension systems for suspending microbes and/or microbe derived metabolites so they are water dispersible and can be combined with a variety of agricultural chemicals in an aqueous solution. The microbes and/or microbe derived metabolites are initially suspended in a plant derived oil and then this oil suspension is converted to a water dispersible suspension using one of the disclosed suspension systems. The microbe and/or microbe derived metabolites in the suspension systems are shelf stable for at least 52 weeks at 25° C.

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: 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 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: The disclosure generally describes the discovery of a train of Trichoderma gamsii (NRRL B-50520) that has multiple capabilities for various uses in plant agriculture and development of systems for its use. This patent application compares its abilities to enhance plant agriculture for a number of applications with a number of other microbial agents and that are contained within useful formulations. While other strains or mixtures have abilities to confer one trait or another, this strain appears to be uniquely versatile in its capabilities. It can be used in conventional or organic agriculture for the promotion of plant growth and increase in crop yields when applied topically as a foliar spray or as a seed coating. The highly active products also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products.

Abstract: A method for characterizing at least a portion of the biodiversity of a sample. The method includes the steps of: (i) obtaining a sample having nucleic acid from a plurality of different organisms; (ii) extracting at least a portion of the nucleic acid from the sample; (iii) optionally performing a whole-genome amplification of the extracted nucleic acid; (iv) optionally performing a second, targeted amplification; (v) sequencing the amplified nucleic acid to obtain sequence data comprising a nucleic acid sequence for at least some of the plurality of different organisms; (vi) querying, using the obtained sequence data, a sequence database, where querying the sequence database identifies one or more of the plurality of different organisms; and (vii) determining, using the identified one or more of the plurality of different organisms, a characteristic of the sample.

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 present technology relates generally to compositions, methods and systems entailing one or more microbial species or microbe derivatives therefrom or combinations of a microbial species pins at least one microbe derivative, in combination with one or more agricultural chemicals such as a fungicide, an insecticide, a nematicide, a bacteriocide, an herbicide or a mixture thereof for application to crops for enhanced growth and performance. The microbial species are preferably selected from the group consisting of Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma afroharzianum, Trichoderma strain K1, Trichoderma strain K2, Trichoderma strain K3: Trichoderma strain K4, Trichoderma strain K5 and mixtures thereof. The microbe derivatives are preferably microbial metabolites selected from the group consisting of 6-pentyl pyrone, harzianic acid, hydtra 1, harzinolide, 1-octene-3-ol and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for characterizing at least a portion of the biodiversity of a sample. The method includes the steps of: (i) obtaining a sample having nucleic acid from a plurality of different organisms; (ii) extracting at least a portion of the nucleic acid from the sample; (iii) optionally performing a whole-genome amplification of the extracted nucleic acid; (iv) optionally performing a second, targeted amplification; (v) sequencing the amplified nucleic acid to obtain sequence data comprising a nucleic acid sequence for at least some of the plurality of different organisms; (vi) querying, using the obtained sequence data, a sequence database, where querying the sequence database identifies one or more of the plurality of different organisms; and (vii) determining, using the identified one or more of the plurality of different organisms, a characteristic of the sample.