Mixotrophic chlorella-based composition, and methods of its preparation and application to plants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10357038-B2
Application number	US-201515536705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 16, 2014
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

Methods preparing a liquid mixotrophic Chlorella based composition comprising pasteurization and stabilization of a low concentration of mixotrophic Chlorella whole cells that have not been subjected to a drying process are disclosed. The liquid composition can be used to enhance the emergence and growth of plants in low concentration and low frequency soil and foliar applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of enhancing growth of a plant comprising administering a liquid composition treatment comprising a culture of Chlorella to soil of the plant, the composition comprising whole pasteurized Chlorella cells, wherein the composition is administered in a concentration in the range of 0.003-0.080% solids by weight; wherein presence of the whole pasteurized chlorella cells in the composition enhances the growth of the plant compared to a composition comprising non-pasteurized chlorella cells, lacking the whole pasteurized chlorella cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Chlorella cells are pasteurized at between 50 and 80° C. for a time between 15 and 360 minutes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the Chlorella cells are pasteurized in a culture having a concentration greater than 11% by weight of Chlorella , at between 55 and 65° C. for between 90 and 150 minutes, and wherein the culture is then diluted to 10-11% Chlorella by weight and cooled to between 35 and 45° C.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pasteurized culture is adjusted to a pH between 3.5 and 4.5.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Chlorella cells are cultured in mixotrophic conditions.

6. The method claim 2 , wherein the Chlorella cells are cultured in mixotrophic conditions.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Chlorella cells are cultured in mixotrophic conditions.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mixotrophic conditions comprise culturing the Chlorella cells in a suitable medium for a culture length of 7-14 days, at a temperature between 20 and 30° C., at a pH between 6.5 and 8.5, and a dissolved oxygen concentration ranging between 0.1 and 4 mg/L.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the Chlorella cells are cultured in non-axenic mixotrophic conditions, and wherein at least one species of sporulating bacterium is present in the non-axenic culture.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bacterium is selected from Paenibacillus sp., Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Brevibacillus sp.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition treatment comprises 0.008-0.080% solids by weight of whole pasteurized Chlorella cells.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition is administered every 3-28 days.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the liquid composition is administered every 3-28 days.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the liquid composition is administered every 3-28 days.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant is a member of a plant family selected from: Solanaceae, Fabaceae (Leguminosae), Poaceae, Roasaceae, Vitaceae, Brassicaeae (Cruciferae), Caricaceae, Malvaceae, Sapindaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rutaceae, Moraceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae, Pedaliaceae, Asteraceae (Compositae), Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), Araliaceae, Oleaceae, Ericaceae, Actinidaceae, Cactaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae, Theaceae, Lecythidaceae, Rubiaceae, Papveraceae, Illiciaceae Grossulariaceae, Myrtaceae, Juglandaceae, Bertulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asparagaceae (Liliaceae), Alliaceae (Liliceae), Bromeliaceae, Zingieraceae, Muscaceae, Areaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Myristicaceae, Annonaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Piperaceae, and Proteaceae.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the whole Chlorella cells have not been subjected to a drying process.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition treatment further comprises at least one culture stabilizer suitable for plants.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the culture stabilizer is selected from: potassium sorbate, phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, and any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the liquid composition treatment further comprises at least one culture stabilizer selected from consisting of potassium sorbate, phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, and any combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the liquid composition treatment further comprises at least one culture stabilizer selected from consisting of potassium sorbate, phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, and any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the whole Chlorella cells have not been subjected to a drying process.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the whole Chlorella cells have not been subjected to a drying process.

Assignees

• Heliae Dev Llc

Inventors

• Shinde Sandip
• Ventre Stephen
• Donowitz Nicholas
• Rohlfsen Michael Clint
• Carney Laura

Classifications

• C12N1/12

  Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor (as new plants A01H13/00) · CPC title

• A01N65/03

  Algae · CPC title

• A01N65/00 Primary

  Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00) · CPC title

• A01N25/04

  Dispersions, {emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates} or gels (foams A01N25/16) · CPC title

• A01N25/22

  containing ingredients stabilising the active ingredients · CPC title