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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11412739-B2
Application number	US-202016952387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2020
Priority date	Dec 16, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

Methods of preparing a liquid Chlorella based composition comprising pasteurization and stabilization of a low concentration of mixotrophic or non-mixotrophic Chlorella whole cells are disclosed. The liquid composition can be used to enhance at least one plant characteristic such as: seed germination rate, seed germination time, seedling emergence, seedling emergence time, seedling size, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, utilization, fruit production, leaf production, leaf formation, thatch height, plant health, plant resistance to salt stress, plant resistance to heat stress, plant resistance to heavy-metal stress, plant resistance to drought, maturation time, yield, root length, root mass, color, insect damage, blossom end rot, softness, fruit quality, and sunburn.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of enhancing yield of a plant comprising:
administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a culture of Chlorella to the plant, the composition comprising pasteurized Chlorella cells, wherein:
the Chlorella cells are pasteurized at between 50-90° C.;
the plant is under salt stress; and
presence of the pasteurized Chlorella cells in the composition enhances the yield of the plant compared to a composition comprising non-pasteurized Chlorella cells and lacking the pasteurized Chlorella cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective amount has a concentration in the range of about 0.001-0.400% solids by weight of pasteurized Chlorella cells.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective amount is about 0.3-15 L/acre.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the plant as a seed treatment and/or a foliar application.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein administering the composition enhances plant yield.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein administering the composition enhances fruit yield.

7. A method of enhancing yield of a plant comprising:
administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a culture of Chlorella to the plant, the composition comprising pasteurized Chlorella cells, wherein:
the Chlorella cells are pasteurized at between 50-90° C.;
presence of the pasteurized Chlorella cells in the composition enhances the yield of the plant compared to a composition comprising non-pasteurized Chlorella cells and lacking the pasteurized Chlorella cells; and
the Chlorella cells are prepared through heterotrophy, wherein the Chlorella cells are cultured on a carbon source comprising glucose.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the effective amount has a concentration in the range of about 0.001-0.400% solids by weight of pasteurized Chlorella cells.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the effective amount is about 0.3-15 L/acre.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the composition is administered to the plant as a seed treatment and/or a foliar application.

11. A method of enhancing yield of a plant comprising:
administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a culture of Chlorella to the plant, the composition comprising pasteurized Chlorella cells, wherein:
the Chlorella cells are pasteurized at between 50-90° C.;
the plant is under at least one of water stress and temperature stress; and
presence of the pasteurized Chlorella cells in the composition enhances the yield of the plant compared to a composition comprising non-pasteurized Chlorella cells and lacking the pasteurized Chlorella cells.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant is under water stress, wherein the water stress is drought stress.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant is under water stress, wherein the water stress is overwatering stress.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant is under temperature stress, wherein the temperature stress is heat stress.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant is under temperature stress, wherein the temperature stress is frost stress.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the effective amount has a concentration in the range of about 0.001-0.400% solids by weight of pasteurized Chlorella cells.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the effective amount is about 0.3-15 L/acre.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition is administered to the plant as a seed treatment and/or a foliar application.

Assignees

• Heliae Dev Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A01N65/03

  Algae · CPC title

• C12N1/12

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

• A01N65/00

  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

• A01N63/00 Primary

  Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, animals or substances produced by, or obtained from, microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi or animals, e.g. enzymes or fermentates (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00; unicellular algae A01N65/03) · CPC title

• A01N25/22

  containing ingredients stabilising the active ingredients · CPC title