Microalgae-based compositions for benefiting plants and methods of application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453354-B2
Application number	US-202318354557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2023
Priority date	Jun 16, 2016
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions and methods of use thereof for enhancing characteristics of plants and soil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid agricultural composition for application to a plant, seed, seedling, or soil, the composition comprising pasteurized microalgae cells, wherein the microalgae cells comprise pasteurized Spirulina cells, wherein the composition is effective in enhancing at least one characteristic of a plant compared to a substantially identical untreated plant.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the microalgae cells further comprise: Aurantiochytrium cells, Botryococcus cells, Chlorella cells, Galdieria cells, Haematococcus cells, Isochrysis cells, Nannochloropsis cells, Pavlova cells, Phaeodactylum cells, Porphyridium cells, Scenedesmus cells, Schizochytrium cells, Tetraselmis cells, or any combination thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 5-30% solids by weight of the microalgae cells.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 5-15% solids by weight of the microalgae cells.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than 5% solids by weight of the microalgae cells.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for application to soil.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for application to seeds and/or foliage.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic comprises: seed germination, seedling emergence, seedling size, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, utilization, leaf production, leaf formation, thatch height, plant maturation, plant yield, plant growth, plant quality, 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, fruit production, fruit yield, fruit growth, fruit quality, or any combination thereof.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the microalgae cells are whole cells, lysed cells, or a combination thereof.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the microalgae cells have been subjected to an extraction process.

11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the extraction process is an oil extraction process.

12. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more stabilizers.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the one or more stabilizers comprises an acid.

14. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the acid is phosphoric acid.

15. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the acid is citric acid.

16. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the one or more stabilizers comprises a yeast and mold inhibitor.

17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the yeast and mold inhibitor is potassium sorbate.

18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the composition is between 3 and 5.

19. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the microalgae cells are pasteurized at a temperature ranging from 50° C. to 90° C.

20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the microalgae cells are cultured in non-axenic, mixotrophic conditions.

Assignees

• Heliae Dev Llc

Inventors

• Shinde Sandip
• Madathil Manikandadas Mathilakathu
• Carney Laura

Classifications

• A01N65/03

  Algae · 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

• A01P21/00 Primary

  Plant growth regulators · CPC title