Title of Invention

PREPARATIONS SUITABLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE SOIL AND PLANT SEEDS AND PROCESS FOR OBTAINING SUCH PREPARATIONS

Abstract There is disclosed preparations suitable for treatment of the soil and plant seeds, which contain alive micro-organism or micro-organisms capable of propagating in different soil-types in the environment of a plant, characterized by containing, in a quantity of 5 x 106 - 1011, preferably 107- 1010cells/g, the culture of Azotobacter < vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001292) and optionally of one or more of the following micro-organisms: Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293), Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IPI B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IPI B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B 001291), Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/, Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ and Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301/, the said micro-organisms propagating also at low temperature preferably below 20°C, as well as in soils with low pH, deposited in the National Collection of the Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms, Budapest, Hungary, with agriculturally acceptable wet or dry carriers acceptable from agricultural point of view and non-toxic for the micro-organisms. A process for obtaining such preparation is also disclosed.
Full Text PREPARATIONS SUITABLE FOR TREATMENT OF THE SOIL AND PLANT
SEEDS AND PROCESS FOR OBTAINING SUCH PREPARATIONS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to product(s) containing alive micro-or-
ganism(s) suitable for soil treatment, micro-organisms multiplying under dif-
ferent climatic and natural circumstances, as well as the procedure for the
production of the products, furthermore procedure for the treatment of the
soil and plants with the products.
More detailed, the invention relates to a procedure for preparing the
products from any of the micro-organisms specified below, or from the mix-
ture thereof.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a procedure for the creation of
the cultures of the micro-organisms to be used. Subject of the invention are
the micro-organisms themselves, as well.
More detailed, the invention relates to a procedure for the treatment of
the soil and the plants with a product containing at least one of the micro-or-
ganisms Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293), Azoto-
bacter'vinelandii spp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001291), Pseudomonas fluo-
resceins var. SW11 (NCAIM IPI B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17
(NCAIM IPI B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B
001301/ -, furthermore the products multiplying and existing in the environ-
ment of the plant in question, containing the listed micro-organisms and their
production.
BACKGROUND ART
The natural medium of the soil is the self-regulating ecosystem of the
plants and micro-organisms, under natural circumstances, the existence of
the former determines that of the other ones. When the balance developed
in the course of the evolution is altered by human activities (deep ploughing,
natural and artificial fertilisation, use of plant-protecting agents, etc.) in its
structure and function, changes of non foreseeable effect can occur. For the
development of the micro-organism populations needed for the optimal culth
vation of a given cultivated plant, on the different soils and under different cli-
matic circumstances, a selection time lasting for long years is needed. The
determinant micro-organisms of the favourable micro-organism population,
however, can be transported in the soil and the circumstances needed for
the optimal cultivation can be created within one-two days. The result of this
is the higher yield, without the harmful upsetting of the natural ecosystem.
The useful and dominant micro-organisms existing in the environment of a
given plant important from economic point of view can be determined by lab-
oratory experiments and these can be individually multiplied, produced by in-
dustrial methods, and can be brought back in the soil in proper proportion.
Important regularities can be discovered in the ecosystem of the soil
and micro-organisms. The number of the micro-organisms is different and
different species can be identified in the immediate environment of the root
system of the living plants (rhyzosphere) and the germinating seeds (sper-
matosphere) than more remote from these. The propagation of the bacteria
in the environment of the root is influenced by many factors. These factors
depend on the region, quality of the soil, composition of the micro-organism
population, and on the climatic circumstances.
The carbon source to be found in the soil comes into being primarily
and in the overwhelming majority by using the solar energy, with photosyn-
thesis.
The nitrogen cycle is more complicated than that of the carbon. On the
transformation of nitrogen, biological and chemical processes have an effect.
In the nature, the gaseous nitrogen in a so-called inert condition is dominant,
and the so-called fixed nitrogen (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia) is present in a lim-
ited quantity.
For the mineralization of the nitrogen gas first of all the biological nitro-
gen binding is responsible. Since over one hectare the quantity of the molec-
ular nitrogen amounts to 6-7x108 tons, this means an inexhaustible source
for the nitrogen bound. The interest of the experts is directed towards the ni-
trogen binding living beings, i.e. towards the living beings, which can reduce
the molecular nitrogen to ammonia since, among others, the knowledge of
these micro-organisms and the adequate utilisation of their properties can
ensure, in an environment friendly manner, the world-wide ceasing of the
hunger.
Some nitrogen binding bacteria fix the nitrogen in free living condition
but numerous bacteria are capable of nitrogen fixing only combined with oth-
er, higher plants.
The phosphorous cycle, contrary to that of the nitrogen, is practically
closed under natural circumstances. The input and output are identical, the
flow is slight, the air won't be contaminated with phosphorous. Finally, this el-
ement accumulates in the waters, seas, and only a slight quantity of this gets
back to the land (for instance in the form of guano).
In the living cells of the soil the phosphorous accumulates in organic
compounds, the mineralization of these takes place with a high speed (3-8
g/m2/year). The solubility - so their accessibility for the plants - of the arising
phosphorous compounds is different, merely 5 % of the 400-1200 mg phos-
phorous detectable in each 1 kg of the average soils is available. The
turnover of certain phosphorous compounds is 500-2000 years.
By transporting some phosphonolytic micro-organism groups in the
soil, the complex phosphorous compounds, which are not accessible for the
plant, can be brought in solution. If the micro-organisms brought in the soil
Junction", and the mineral contents of the soil are satisfactory, the use of the
fertilizers containing phosphate is not necessary or can be considerably re-
duced.
For growth, the plants need - especially at the time of the ripening of
the crop - potassium of a considerable quantity. The plant cultivators bring
the potassium in the soil by feeding of fertilizer with potassium content. This
fertiliser can be made available from the potassium minerals by means of the
micro-organisms releasing the potassium ion.
As far as the plants are concerned, the micro-organisms multiplying in
the soil biosynthetize physiologically active compounds, out of these the
most important compounds being: phytohormones, auxins (indole-3-acetic
acid), ethylene, gibberellines, kinetins, etc. Some Pseudomonas groups, in
the presence of iron of a slight quantity, produce so-called siderophores,
which can collect the iron. As a consequence of this, the other, phy-
topathogenic bacteria and fungi, since these cannot utilize the iron from the
siderophores, suffer inhibition owing to the lack of iron, on the other hand,
these siderophores, in soil with lack of iron, significantly stimulate the growth
of the plants, since binding the iron, these directly provide the iron for the
plant.
For the solution of the above, several technical versions had been
elaborated; several micro-organisms are described in the special literature in
full details.
Hungarian inventors disclosed the preparation of powdered nitrifica-
tion cultures (Hungarian patent HU 143.391), Azotobacter chroococcum and
Rhizobium meliloti cultures (Hungarian patent HU 188.434), alga cultures
(Hungarian patent HU 195.068) and Azotobacter chroococcum cultures
again, as well as the preparation of the cultures of Bacillus megaterium mi-
cro-organisms (Hungarian patent HU 207.751). The Azotobacter chroococ-
cum had been deposited under the deposit No. 00238, the Bacillus megateri-
um under the serial No. NCAIM IP I B 1140. More detailed, in Hungarian
patents HU 188.434 and HU 207.751, the authors describe the fermentation
turning out of the mixture of the above deposited micro-organisms. Accord-
ing to Hungarian patent HU 213 163 the authors complete the culture of the
micro-organisms of HU 207.751 with carboxy-methyl-cellulose. Hungarian in-
ventors in HU 1671/96 describe cultures containing Azospirillum lipoferum
ssp., Azotobacter vinelandi sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens ssp. and Bacillus
megaterium ssp. micro-organisms.
The application and effect of the micro-organisms applied in the men-
tioned procedures are limited by the fact that these, under different cultiva-
tion circumstances, in soils of various compositions, under different climatic
circumstances, survive only for a short time, the environment and rhyzo-
sphere of the various plants not always create optimal conditions.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The basic purpose of the invention is to provide such soil micro-organ-
ism cultures, which, from plant cultivation and economic point of view, are of
a favorable effect, and which, at the same time, can survive, multiply and ex-
ert their favorable effect in various soils and on various plants, under differ-
ent climatic and cultivation circumstances.
It has surprisingly been found that the multiplying and survival the mi-
cro-organisms favorably influencing the development of the plant, fixing the
nitrogen, mobilizing the phosphate, stimulating the growth df the plant, im-
proving the soil structure, cultivated in the laboratories vary depending on the
character of the soil, the temperature conditions and the plant in the immedi-
ate environment of the plant. Different micro-organism groups exert their ef-
fect in ciernozjom soil, in soil of low humus content, in loess, country or for
instance in clayey soil environment. In the course of our experiments it has
been proved that, however surprising it is, other micro-organism groups can
multiply in the rhysosphere of the various plants, or near to it and to exert
their effect there for a long time.
Therefore, experiments were performed for the isolation of such mh
cro-organisms, which have a favorable effect in the environment of a given
plant being important from economic point of view, as far as its cultivation is
concerned. Additionally, experiments were also carried out for the isolation of
the micro-organisms, which can mobilize the potassium ions and for the
preparation of such micro-organisms - isolated from the soil and changed in
laboratory, by mutation procedures -, which can propagate at the time of
bringing in the soil, at a low temperature, as well, and which - however sur-
prising even for the expert, too - can exert their effect.
Moreover, we have stated in the course of the experiments that cer-
tain micro-organisms producing polysaccharides, in a surprising manner,
change the soil structure favorably from agricultural point of view, hereby im-
proving the drought-resistance.
Summing up our experiment work, it was our aim to isolate such m"h
cro-organisms, which transmit nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium to the
plants, biosynthesize vegetal growth hormones, biosynthesize polysaccha-
rides improving soil structure, and which are able to propagate in the sowing
period and in the countries of the colder climate, as well, and. to exert their
effect in various soils and plants. Furthermore we aimed to produce such
preparations, the micro-organism contents of which, in the environment of
the plant, in the rhyzosphere, or directly among the vegetal cells, by fixing
and mobilisation of elements of vital importance, as well as by the production
of vegetal growth factors and polysacharides in the given vegetal environ-
ment promote the development of a given plant or family of plants, as a con-
sequence of which we can save, in an environment protecting manner, the
use of fertiliser.
Subject of the present invention is the growing procedure referring to
the listed micro-organisms, the preparations containing these, furthermore,
the application of the preparation(s) containing the micro-organism(s) and
concretely the micro-organisms.
The present invention is based on the recognition that for making the
target preparations, the Azospirilium brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B
001293), Azotobacter vinelandi ssp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001292), Pseu-
domonas fluoresceins var.SWH (NCAIM IPI B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa
var. SW17 (NCAIM IPI B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM /
P/ B 001291), Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM .IPI B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ and Strepto-
myces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301/ micro-organisms are the
most convenient, which can multiply at the low temperature of the sowing pe-
riod, which supply the nitrogen for the plants, mobilize phosphorous, potassi-
um, biosynthesized growth hormones and polysaccharides, therefore we iso-
lated these and elaborated a growing procedure for these.
In sense of the above, between 1998 and 1999, we isolated in Eu-
rope, from soils and the root environment of certain plants micro-organisms,
tested in vitro their ability of nitrogen fixing, phosphate and potassium solubi-
lizing, polysaccharide producing and biosynthesizing of vegetal hormones,
systematically identified the selected micro-organisms, prepared such vari-
ants by mutation treatment, which propagate intensively at temperatures be-
low 20 °C as well, for the cultivation of these elaborated a growing technolo-
gy, and from their cultures preparations were made, and proved their effect
on the vegetal development and the yields by greenhouse and field experi-
ments.
Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Pseudomonas,
Bacillus, Streptomyces and Micrococcus species and subspecies were iso-
lated.
The least known Azospirillum species are the bacteria of Gram-nega-
tive variable colouring, living in the soil, which, under micro-aerofil circum-
stances (in the presence of 1-2 % oxygen), in close connection with the root
system of the plants, can reduce the nitrogen of the air to ammonia, then
transmit it to the plants. Some groups biosynthetize vegetal hormones, too.
The Azospirillum groups were isolated from the root environment of
maize, wheat, barley, rye grown on various arable lands of Europe, in various
soils and of the grass of hayfields. The bacterium suspension deriving from
the soil sample was dispersed on the Nfb(ll) and MM culture medium of the
composition given later on, then cultivated under microaeorophylic condi-
tions. After 72 hours, the Azospirillum cultures were identified. The Azospiril-
lum cultures, differing from the other small bacterium and fungus cultures,
reach a size of about 3 mm.
The Azospirillum sp. cultures, when exponentially growing in the liquid
MM and Nb(ll) soft agar mediums of the composition given later on, show
the morphology characteristic of the Azospirillum cells. The cells are vibroid
and of S-form, and of the size 1-2 x 2-4 ^m. For their increase, they need bi-
otin. On the basis of microscopic observation they can quickly move. Their
mobility can be attributed to their polar flagella. In their cells, these accumu-
late poly-beta-hydroxy-butyrate grains, and carotines. The reddish discol-
oration can be explained by the ageing culture. To their increasing they can
use organic acids, such as malic acid, lactic acid, pyroracemic acid and bu-
tanedioic acid, as well. The fixing of the nitrogen of the air takes place under
microaerofil circumstances. Under extreme circumstances, such as in the
case of drought, at low or high pH value, in lack of nitrogen or carbon source,
the cells will be transformed into cysts, on which there is no flagellum, but
which contain poly-beta-hydroxy-butyrate grains and are surrounded with
capsular polysacharide. The carbon-source utilizing spectrum of the micro-
organisms is varying concerning the species: the A. amazonense glucose +
saccharose + inozitol + A. brasilense glucose + saccharose and inozitol -, the
A. irakense utilizes the glucose (+) and the saccharose (+) but not the inozh
tol (-), finally the A. Hpoferum only the glucose. In nitrogen-free medium, the
spectrum of carbon source utilizing is different to a larger extent, so the
above four species can be distinguished. The carbon source utilizing spec-
trum of our isolated micro-organism partly differs from the ATCC 29.731 A.
Lipoferrum, A. amazonense, A. brasiliense and A. irakense neotype (Holt, J.
G. And collaborators, Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 9th edi-
tion, 1994). Contrary to the type groups, these properly increase in the pres-
ence of 3,5 % natrium chloride, in soft agar (this will be described later on)
their microscopic pictures are different in the various periods of the cultiva-
tion, their pigment production is more intensive for instance in potato extract
agar.
Some isolated Azospirillums are near to the species Azospirillum
Hpoferum, Azospirillum amazonense, Azospirillum brasilense as well as to
the species Azospirillum irakense, we performed the further experiments on
these while selecting one of the Azospirillum brasilense groups.
From the above soil samples Azotobacter micro-organisms were iso-
lated on Nfb(ll) soft agar, with selective cultivation,Theri"on"MM and Fjodorov
medium by dispersing and selecting one of our subspecies on the basis of its
nitrogen fixing ability and stored it for further experiments. The cells of the
group are pleiomorph, of coccoid form. In the presence of oxygen these
move quickly. These are Gram-negative. These produce on nitrogen-free
medium fluorescent, yellowish-green pigment, these properly utilise the
rhamnoze and mezo-inozitol.
As it is well known, the Rhizobiums form nodules on the roots of the
papilionaceae, then, getting among the vegetal cells, these directly transmit
the fixed nitrogen to the plant. With the various papilionaceae different Rhi-
zobioum species enter into connection, with the soya bean the Bradyrhizobi-
um group. Since this is the sole such Rhizobium species, which dies after the
crop harvest, i.e. it does not remain in a large quantity in the soil, it is advis-
able to use this group for soil treatment. We isolated the Bradyrhizobium
group on the 13th July from the soya plantation in Subasa near to Szeged-
Kiskundorozsma. From the plants growing in the loess a well developing
plant was selected and detached the well developed nodules from its roots.
The psychrophylic variant of the micro-organism isolated as given in the ex-
ample was deposited.
In our collected soil samples we searched for phosphate mobilising
micro-organisms and tested the selected micro-organisms from systematic
point of view. A part of the micro-organisms proved to be Pseudomonas, the
other part proved to be Bacillus species.
The Pseudomonas are Gram-negative, aerobic cells of a thin stick
form, these produce on the most media fluorescent pigment, these are
saprophyte. No carotine production can be observed, these do not grow at
temperatures over 40 °C. On the gelatinous agars liquefaction can be seen.
The glucose is utilized by our groups, the starch not. Although the variants of
the fluorescence Pseudomonas groups are systematically in close connec-
tion, certain systematic heterogenity could be observed between our micro-
organism and the type groups: our micro-organism - characteristically of the
Pseudomonas - properly utilises the glucose, galactose, acetic acid, maltose,
glycerin, and the pyroracemic acid. It does not utilize the fructose, D-arabi-
nose, maltose, lactose, starch and inulin. Contrary to the type groups, how-
ever, these are able to grow on xylose, saccharose and to a certain extent,
on sorbitol. As a sole carbon-source, they can utilize glycine.
On the basis of the above, one of our micro-organisms was identified
as the species Pseudomonas fluorescent and found it standing near to the
variants belonging to Biovar III group. We named the group as Pseu-
domonas fluorescent ssp.
On the basis of the systematic characters, out of the Bacillus cells,
which can solve the insuluble phosphate, some proved to be Bacillus
polymyxa, some proved to be Bacillus megaterium. Some groups were selected for
further experiments.
From the potassium minerals, for the isolation of the micro-organisms capable
of mobilising the potassium ion, micro-organisms from the surface of minerals con-
taining potassium, feldspar, and muscovite were isolated, then tested as given in the
examples, on solid, potassium-free media, to prove the potassium mobilisation. Ap-
plying the procedure given in the examples, by means of mutation treatments a mi-
cro-organism identified as Streptomyces psychrophilic was produced and deposited.
We isolated such a micro-organism, as well, which after the systematic, mor-
phologic and ribosomal DNA tests proved to be Micrococcus roseus and showed an
extraordinary advantageous effect in the course of the vegetal tests. One of the
groups of this micro-organism was deposited, which group had been transformed in
laboratory.
The invention is also based on the fact that the micro-organisms of favorable
effect, planted in the soil, can multiply as fast as possible at the time of the initial de-
velopment of the sowings and the plants, under the climatic conditions in the autumn
and early spring and in countries of colder climate, as well. Therefore the micro-or-
ganisms were treated, isolated and maintained according to the above as given in
the example No. 4. By recognised procedures, the mutants and variants increasing
at low temperatures were isolated, as well, then deposited in the National Collection
of Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms (NCAIM), Budapest, Hungary.
Accordingly, the present invention provides Preparations suitable for treatment
of the soil and plant seeds, which contain alive micro-organism or micro-organisms
capable of propagating in different soil-types in the environment of a plant, character-
ized by containing, in a quantity of 5 x 106- 1011, preferably 107- 1010cells/g, the cul-
ture of Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001292) and one or more of
the following mutated micro-organisms:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IPI B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IPI B 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301/,
the said mutated micro-organisms propagating also at low temperature prefer-
ably below 20°C, as well as in soils with low pH, deposited in the National Collection
of the Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms, Budapest, Hungary, with agricul-
turally acceptable wet or dry carriers acceptable from agricultural point of view and
non-toxic for the micro-organisms.
The invention refers to such preparations and procedures, by applying which
the yield of the vegetable cultures is increasing. The procedures are associated with
selecting microorganisms isolated from the environment of various plants, propagat-
ing these at low temperatures, isolating the appropriate microorganism strains, pre-
paring compositions therefrom and applying these preparations on the relevant
plants, on the seeds thereof or on the soil. According to the invention, the prepara-
tions can be used by treating the soil, the plants or the vegetable seeds with a preparation,
which contains at least one of the following micro-organisms: Azospirillum brasilense ssp.
SW51 (NCAIM IP! B 001293), Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I
B 001292), Pseudomonas fluorescent var. SW11 (NCAIM IP I B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IP I B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium
var. M326 (NCAIM IP I B 001291), Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IP I
B 001294/, Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IP I P 0012../ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IP I B 0012../.
As a result of the treatment the development of the plants will be ac-
celerated, these will be more resistant to pathogens, the water supply of the
soil structure and the plants will be improved and high yields are provided
even with reduced use of fertilizer or non-use of any fertilizer at all.
It is one of the most important advantages of the procedure according
to the invention that by the implementation thereof, in the course of the plant
cultivation, the application of the nitrogen-, phosphate- and potassium-based
fertilizers will be practically unnecessary or it can be reduced to a consider-
able extent. The environmental pollution effect of the fertilizers is evident.
The compounds biosynthesizing in the micro-organism cells, promoting the
vegetal development accelerate the development of the treated plant, the
root development and at the same time with this the water supply of the
plants will be improved, the fed micro-organisms repress the development of
the phytopathogenic micro-organisms, the polysaccharides biosynthetizing in
the cells of some of our micro-organisms improve the soil structure, the water
balance and the soil life especially favourably. The preparations according to
the invention, their making and application, contrary to the known prepara-
tions and preparing procedures of the same purpose and application, are
based on the use of micro-organisms of various, different effects, isolated
from various soils, exerting a specific effect on a given, economically impor-
tant cultivated plant, which micro-organisms can multiply at the low tempera-
tures in the autumn and early spring and on areas of colder climate, as well.
The micro-organisms according to the invention can be cultivated on
medium containing as carbon source for instance glucose, starch, saccha-
rose, or molasses, as nitrogen source corn steep liquor, casein, yeast extract
or ammonium salts, further other inorganic salts and salts dissociating on the
ions of trace elements, but, as it is evident for the specialists, any assimilable
carbon- and nitrogen sources, inorganic salts can be used which make possible
the propagation of the bacteria according to the invention.
The culture containing the micro-organisms according to the invention
can be added directly to the soil to be treated or to the pants in the medium
used for the cultivation, but preparations keeping the biotic potential of the
micro-organism, among these the preparations containing carriers fixing the bac-
teria to the seeds with adhesion forces may be prepared, too. The bac-
terium quantity brought to the soil may vary between 5x1011 and 5x1015 cells
per hectare, the favourable cell quantity is between 1012 and 1013.
In sense of Budapest Agreement, we deposited the micro-organisms
isolated, identified from various vegetation environments, which can multiply at
low temperatures, too, in the National Collection of Agricultural and Industrial
Micro-organisms, Budapest, Hungary, where these are registered under the following
deposit numbers:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293),
Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001292),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IPI B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IPI B 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ es
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301/.
The scope of protection also extends to the deposited groups and to
their artificial and natural mutants, variants or to the group lines of the above
micro-organisms gained in any known manner, as well.
Hereunder we illustrate the invention with examples, without limiting the
scope of protection to them.
In the examples the percentages are expressed in weight percentages,
unless specified otherwise.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Example No. 1.
Isolation of the micro-organisms fixing the nitrogen of the air from vari-
ous soils and from the environment of various plants and proving of their ni-
trogen fixing capacity
The Azospirillum species are the bacteria of Gram-negative-variable
coloration, which are able to reduce the nitrogen of the air to ammonia under
microaerofil circumstances (in the presence of 1-2 % oxygen) and to make
available these for the plants.
Azospirillum species were isolated from various soil samples (humous,
loess, sodic, brown and black soil, etc.), from the root environment of various
plants (cereals, sunflower, corn, grasses, etc.). The chemical attractants,
such as the organic acids and sugars, attract the Azospirillum groups by
chemotaxis. Helped by their flagella, the bacteria move towards the roots
and having reached them, colonise.
From the 10-, 100-, 1.000- and 10.000 -fold dilutions of the given soil
sample made with sterile, distilled water, 100-100 fil suspension were spread
on Petri-dishes containing MM and Nfb(ll) soft agar. The composition of the
MM medium is as follows: '
The glucose was sterilised separately from the other components of
the MM medium with autoclave (121°0c, 30 minutes), then mixed therewith
after cooling down to the temperature of 60°C. The sterile medium was ad-
justed to pH: 7,4 with a sterile 1N NaOH solution.
The composition of the Nfb(ll) medium is as follows:
The medium was adjusted with 1N water KOH solution to pH: 6,8.
Composition of the trace element solution is as follows:
Ferro-ll-sulphatex7 HzO 200 mg
Ferro-lll-chloride x6 H20 10 mg
Manganese sulphate x H20 1 mg
Cupric sulphate x 5 H20 2 mg
NaMoC>4 x 2 H20 1 mg
Cobalt-chloride x 6 H20 2 mg
Zinc-sulphate x 7 H20 2 mg
Sodium-tetraborate x 10 H20 1 mg
P205 x 24 W03 x H20 0,5 mg
Bismuth-nitrate x 5 H20 0,1 mg
Tin-chloride 0,01 mg
Selenium chloride 0,01 mg
Potassium iodide 1 mq
Citric acid 100 mg
Distilled water 1000 ml
"Composition of the vitamin solution is as follows:
C vitamin 50 mg
B1 vitamin 5 mg
E vitamin 2 mg
A vitamin 2 mg
Biotin 4 mg
Distilled water 100 ml
The bacteria brought in the media to be found on the MM plates were
placed in anaerobe thermostats, by exchanging the air space of the thermo-
stat for nitrogen, then set to oxygen concentration of 1,6 % with the reflux of
air of satisfactory quantity, the plates were incubated at a temperature of
32°C, then after 72 hours the Azospirillum organisms were identified. Corre-
sponding to the dilution line, on the plate spread with the 10-fold diluted sus-
pension a continuous bacterium field has developed, whilst from the 10.000-
fold diluted suspension generally 30-50 cultures have developed. The
Azospirillum cultures, differing from the other small bacteria, and the fungus
cultures, reached a size of about 3 mm. Out of the cultures, several ones
were morphologically similar to the Azospirillum cultures. Out of these we fur-
ther studied some ones.
The Nfb(ll) soft agar cultures were placed in aerobe thermostat, in the
above medium and under the above cultivating circumstances, first of all the
Azospirillums multiply, and with recognisable, characteristic morphology.
the various Azospirillum bacterium groups gained from the MM and
Nfb(ll) media were grown in compliance with the microbiological practice, in
such a manner that the primary bacterium culture was spread two times on
one culture, on a complete Tag medium. The Azospirillum bacterium groups
were purified by spreading two times on one culture in liquid Tag medium
and stored in the group culture. The bacterium suspension at the tempera-
ture of -80° C was considered as the group culture and all the experiments
were started from this culture.
Composition of the Tag medium is as follows:
Bacto trypton (Difco) 1,0 %
Yeast extract (Difco) 0,1 %
NaCI 0,5 %
Agar 2,5 %
After sterilization, the water solutions of the following compounds, in
the following final concentration were added:
0,1 % 0,1 MCaCI2x6H20
0,1 % 0,1 MMgCI2x6H20
0,2 % glucose (separately sterilised)
After the sterilisation the pH of the medium was adjusted to 7,0-7,2.
The root colonisation can be detected by a simple experiment. On the
root of corn and wheat plant treated with Azospirillum bacterium, sown in
sterile perlite (pot of diameter of 15 cm) and cells of equal number (1x1010
cells pro pot), on the basis of microscopic counting, essentially more
Azospirillum cells were to be detected, than in the controls. The root coloni-
sation takes place on the basis of a specific recognition mechanism. In the
course of the colonisation, the Azospirillum cells penetrate in the matrix of
the root and these there - by means of their active nitrogen fixing - can cover
a part of the nitrogen need of the main plant (associative nitrogen fixing).
This was proved by the growth of higher green mass of corn and wheat inoc-
ulated with Azospirillum groups in the course of our laboratory experiments,
the results of which is detailed later on. The Azospirillums produce vegetable
hormones and materials promoting the growth, as well, the rise of these ma-
terials and their favourable effect on the main plant can be shown with the in-
creased germinating efficiency and with the more intensive plant growth, with
experiments performed under laboratory circumstances.
The morphological characteristics of the isolated Azospirillum species
are found in the general part of the description.
On Nfb(ll) soft agar with selective cultivation, than in nitrogen-free MM
medium with selective cultivation, Azospirillum micro-organisms were isolat-
ed from plough-land soil samples. These groups were found to be Azospiril-
lum brasilense according to the systematic characteristics and the carbon-
source utilisation spectrum, fixing the molecular nitrogen of the air to a large
extent with/SW5-01-07jthen, as described later on, variants multiplying at
low temperatures as well, biosynthetizing polysaccharide were isolated, and
one of these deposited.
For the isolation of the Azotobacter groups, in addition to the use of
the Nfb(ll) and MM media of the composition given above, the soil samples
were cultivated in Fjodorov medium, too, where the Azotobacters show char-
acteristic morphological properties. Composition of the Fjodorov medium is
as follows:
Potassium dihydrogen-phosphate 0,03 %
Calcium-hydrogen-phosphate 0,02 %
Potassium-sulphate 0,02 %
Magnesium-sulphate x 7 aqv. 0,03 %
Calcium-carbonate 0,5 %
Sodium-chloride 0,05 %
Ferric/I I l/-chloride 0,02 %
Sodium-molybdenate 0,0002 %
Mannitol 2,0 %
Bacto agar 2,0 %
The pH of the medium prior to sterilisation was adjusted with 1N sodi-
um-hydroxide solution to 7,0.
On Nfb(ll) soft agar with selective cultivation, then on nitrogen-free
MM and Fjodorov medium with selective cultivation, Azotobacter micro-or-
ganisms were isolated from plough-land soil samples. These groups were
found to be Azotobacter vinelandii according to the systematic characters
and the carbon source utilisation spectrum, fixing the molecular nitrogen of
the air to a large extent with the mark[M65-01-3J-^en, as described later
on, variants multiplying at a low temperature were isolated, as well and one
of these deposited by us.
The nitrogen fixing capacity of the Azospirillum and Azotobacter
groups was determined by the acetylene reduction method, too. According to
the method (Ditworth M. J., J. Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 27, 285, 1996), acety-
lene was injected in the culture in a closed dish with an injector, then, after
incubation of 12 hours, 0,25 ml gas mixture was injected in the Propak N col-
umn of the Perkin-Elmer gas chromatograph. The acetylene and ethylene
concentration of the gas mixture were determined by a hydrogen flame ioni-
sation detector. From the height of the acetylene and ethylene peaks it could
definitely be concluded on the enzyme complex activity of the nitrogenase.
Our Azospirillum and Azotobacter groups reduced, within 1 hour, acetylene
of a quantity between 15 and 85 nmol to ethylene.
The Bradyrhizobium group was isolated on the 13rd July 2000 from the
soybean plants of Subasa located near to Szeged-Kiskundorozsma. From
the plants growing in the loess a well developing plant was selected and from
its roots the well developed nodules were removed. The nodules with sterile,
distilled water were washed, squashed, then the particles were suspended in
physiologic salt solution. From the suspension, under sterile conditions, dilu-
tion series were prepared and spread on complete medium. The nitrogen fix-
ing capacity of the cultures growing after the incubation of 48 hours by a so-
called symbiotic plant test, was determined as follows: the surface of com-
mercial medic (Medicago sativa) seeds was sterilised by heat treatment of 2
hours made at a temperature of 72°C and by careful rinsing with a Hypo so-
lution of 20 %, then germinated in a distilled water medium containing 1 %
agar. The seedlings were placed on 1,5 % Gibson oblique agar (see later on)
and raised in greenhouse for a week. The one week old plants were inoculat-
ed with the cells of a bacterium culture each and raised in greenhouse for
further eight weeks. From the groups belonging to the three plants showing a
prominently optimal development (dry-weight of the parts over the root 22-26
mg, contrary to the weight of the control plants of 3-5 mg) three were select-
ed and on the basis of their properties being important from morphologic and
systematic point of view, we named them Bradyrhizobium japonicum var.
PH-2-1-3.
Example No. 2.
Isolation of phosphate- and potassium solubilizing micro-organisms
Soil samples were collected in various parts of the world, the water
suspensions of the samples spread on Tag medium (see above), then the
isolated materials of Pseudomonas and Bacillus culture and cell morphology
were tested.
The various Pseudomonas and Bacillus groups were purified in com-
pliance with the microbiological practice by spreading the primary bacterium
culture several times on a single culture, on a complete TAg medium. The
bacterium groups were increased and stored purified with spreading in liquid
and solid TAg medium.
The phosphate mobilising properties of the micro-organisms were
tested in a Nutrient Agar (Oxoid) medium containing 1 % hydroxi-apatite,
completed with modified Pikovskaya (HP) and 10 % tricalcium-phosphate
and glucose (0,2%).
Composition of the media used in the course of the experiments is as
follows:
The solutions of the following compounds were added to the medium
after sterilisation:
1 % 20 mg/100 ml FeS04 x 7H20
1 % 40 mg/100 ml MnSC>4 x y\2Q
Prior to the sterilisation the medium was adjusted to pH: 7,2.
Naoxg: Nutrient agar (Oxoid) prepared according to the instructions of
the manufacturer + 0,2 % glucose.
During testing the phosphate solubilizing capacity of the groups se-
lected in the course of the preliminary experiments in Pikovskaya (HP) medi-
um, the cultures grown within 3-4 days at a temperature of 30°C produced
solution rings of 29 and 38 mm. The cell suspensions of the same groups
obtained from TAg oblique agar, with 1 ml distilled water were dropped in
holes made on Naoxg plates completed with 10 % tricalcium-phosphate (0,1
ml/hole). Incubating the cultures at a temperature of 30°C, within 2-3 days
well visible solution rings can be observed. The size of these was 24 mm
when using the Pseudomonas groups tested in detail, and 26 mm when we
used the Bacillus groups, the average size amounted to 34 mm.
Each individual Pseudomonas group and some Bacillus groups
proved to have intensive phosphate solubilising properties. The groups carry
both inorganic phosphate variants well detectable in solution, so it can be
stated that these have excellent phosphate solubilising properties.
On basis of their systematic characteristics and the carbon utilisation
spectrum, The fourteen Pseudomonas and twenty-five Bacillus micro-organ-
isms selected on the basis of the tests were found to be Pseudomonas fluo-
rescens and Bacillus polymyxa as well as Bacillus^ megaterium, which were
marked in the following sequence of order: SW1-1-14, SW17-1-15 and M32-
1-10, then, as given later on, variants multiplying at low temperature, as well
and biosynthetizing polysaccharide in large quantities were isolated and de-
posited.
isolation of the micro-organisms mobilizing the potassium ions was ac-
complished as described above, with the difference of excluding the potassi-
um chloride from the Pikovskaya (HP) medium of the composition given
above and adding 1 % feldspar crushed in fine powder and mica schist in-
stead of the hydroxy-apatite.
In the surrounding of the micro-organism cultures bringing the miner-
als insoluble in water completely or partly in solution, a transparent zone will
be formed.
Some of these were selected and on the basis of the systematic char-
acteristics, morphologic properties and the carbon source utilization spec-
trum were found to be Bacillus and Streptomyces, our 15 groups were
marked as No. 1-015-0003, and then, as described later on, variants multi-
plying at low temperature were isolated, too and one of these had been de-
posited.
_Example No. 3. Isolation of microorganisms producing siderophores
and vegetable hormones
The siderephore and hormone production capacity of the groups iso-
lated as described in examples No. 1 and 2 were tested by using King B
medium. The composition of this is as follows:
Peptone 2 %
Glycerin 1 %
K2HP04 0,15 %
MgS04x7H20 0,15 %
Agar 2 %
Prior to sterilisation, the medium was adjusted to pH: 7,2 with sodium-
hydroxide solution.
The Pseudomonas groups producing the siderophores fix the iron-
ions, which they transmit to the plant in iron-poor soil, as well. Moreover,
these inhibit the propagation of some phytopathogenic micro-organisms,
such as the Erwinia caratovora, since these cannot utilize the fixed iron. We
tested the siderophore production by inhibiting the growth of the Escherichia
coli MC1061 group. The cell suspensions of the two groups from agar culture
were prepared with distilled water, then cultivated dropping on iron-free and
iron-containing (1 uM FeCI3 x 7 H20) King B plate (30-50 \i\) for 48 hours, at
a temperature of 28°C, followed by spraying the plate with E. Coli MC1061
culture obtained from TAg agar and continuing the incubation for further 28
hours, at the temperature of 28 °C. Around the cultures, various inhibition
zones can be observed, the results of the average of four experiments are
shown on Table No. 1. as negative control Bacillus megaterium, as positive
control Pseudomonas fluorescens( were used).
Table No. 1.
Micro-organism King B" " ' " King B + 1JM FeCI3~
inhibition inhibition |
zone j zone !
*Extent of inhibition: - no, + low, ++ and +++ high and very high
In the course of the testing of the siderophore production with the
mob4 and positive control group a considerable inhibition zone was ob-
served, which ceased in the presence of iron ions.
As mentioned before, some Pseudomonas groups produce vegetal
hormones. Selected micro-organisms were tested whether these are capable
of the biosynthesis of ghibberellic -acid in the TAg medium of the composi-
tion given above. The tests were performed by using ghibberellic acid A stan-
dard (Sigma), by (40 ug/ml) silica gel (Merck) thin layer chromatography, ex-
traction of the cultures with ethyl-acetate, was followed by an extraction with
sodium-hydroxide-carbonate of double volume, then in a solution of pH:2,5
with ethyl-acetate again. In the evaporation residue of the extract the follow-
ing groups a spot of Rf value near to the standard were found:
The groups marked SW1-1-6 and M32-1-9 were selected (these pro-
duce approximately 3-15 Dg hormone pro millimeter).
The groups as described in the general part were tested and identified
from systematic point of view.
Example No. 4.
______Isolation of micro-organisms producing extracellular polysac-
charide
4A. Selection of the Bradyrhizobia-
The Bradyrhizobium PH2-1-3 groups were spread in Tag medium con-
taining 1 % glucose and 1 % saccharose (see above) and tested polysaccha-
ride (slime) quantity around the cultures. The PH2-1-1 and -2 groups biosyn-
thesizing the polysaccharide were selected.
4B. Isolation of Bacillus
The Bacillus M32-1-10 and SW17-1-15 groups were spread in Tag
medium containing 1 % glucose and 1 % saccharose (see above) and tested
the polysaccharide (slime) quantity around the cultures. The M32-1-6.8 and
10 and the SW17-1-7,11 and 15 groups biosynthesizing the polysaccharide
were selected.
The isolated micro-organism proved to be Micrococcus roseus, on
complete medium containing glucose and saccharose is biosynthesizing
large quantities of polysaccharide transforming the culture-medium into a vis-
cous material.
The selected groups, according to our tests, are biosynthesizing wa-
ter-soluble polysaccharide of succionoglucone-type, of known structure.
Example No. 5.
Isolation of cold-enduring micro-organisms
The micro-organisms selected according to the examples 1-4. were
treated with agent causing mutations and with radiation. The suspensions of
the micro-organisms prepared with distilled water were treated with 0,01, 0,1,
1,0, 10 and 100 ug/ml nitroso-guanidine for 1, 3, 5, 10 and 30 minutes. Fol-
lowing the treatment, the cell suspension was centrifuged, washed with dis-
tilled water two times, then the cells spread on TAg culture medium, the
treatment with was repeated distilled water cell suspension containing 109 mi-
cro-organisms pro millimeter, by keeping the cells for 1, 3, 5, 10 and 30 min-
utes under a 15 W UV lamp, in a distance of 10 cm therefrom, the cell suspensions
were spread on Tag culture medium, with serial dilution.
The TAg cultures were incubated at a temperature of 18 °C for 192 hours, fol-
lowed by isolating the biggest cultures on TAg agar/agars incubated at a temperature
of 18 °C.
The following grown cultures are controlled and maintained.
From the isolated, selected and cold-enduring micro-organisms, the followings
were separated and deposited:
Azospirillurrfbrasliense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293),
Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001292),
Pseudomonas fluoresceins var. SW11 (NCAIM IPI B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IPIB 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301 /.
Example No. 6.
Cultivation of micro-organisms
6A. Cultivation on complete culture medium:
From the TAg culture medium oblique agar cultures were prepared, then incu-
bated at a temperature of 30°C, for 48 hours. From the Azospirillum, Azotobacter,
Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces or Micrococcus cultures were
inoculated in the culture mediums marked - Tali - of the following composition:
Calcium-carbonate 0,3 %
Potassium-dyhidrogen-phosphate 0,1 %
Sodium-chloride 0,1 %
Magnesium-sulphate x 7 H20 0,1 %
Palm oil 0,2 %
The 100-100 ml portions of the culture medium were filled in 500 ml
Erlenmeyer-flasks, then sterilized at a temperature of 121°C, for 30 minutes,
the sterile culture media were inoculated with the micro-organisms grown on
the oblique agar cultures and the cultivation of the cultures was carried out at
a temperature of 25 °C, on a rotating table working with 260 circular rotations
pro minute, for 36 minutes. The growth was observed with microscopic test,
then, using a quantity of 5 % from the inoculums, which were inoculated in
the Ta1f principal fermentation culture mediums of the following composition:
Glucose (separately sterilised in 50 % water solution) 1,5
%
Molasses 2,5 %
Corn steep liquor (50 % dry substance) 1,5 %
Gistex yeast extract 0,4 %
Acid casein 0,4 %
Ammonium sulphate 0,2 %
Ammonium-nitrate 0,2 %
Calcium-carbonate 0,3 %
Potassium-dihydrogen-phosphate 0,2 %
Sodium-chloride 0,1 %
Magnesium-sulphate x 7 H20 0,2 %
Trace element solution* 0,45 %
Palm oil 0,2 %
Composition of the trace element solution is according to example
No. 1.
The culture media pro 100 ml in Erlenmeyer-flasks were sterilized,
and in laboratory fermenters of a gross volume of 10 I and of a net volume of
5 I, under the circumstances given above.
The cultures placed in the flasks were cultivated on rotation table,
while in the fermenters in the usual manner, by v/v airing and by operating a
turbo mixer with double inlet, rotating 360 times per minute, for 24 hours,
when the cell number per millimeter - depending on the bacterium - reaches
the values 4x108 -1,3x109.
For the preparation of cultures of larger quantities, 10 liters cultures were
prepared on the Tali culture medium of the composition given above, under the
aforesaid fermentation conditions, then 100 liters sterilized Tali and 100 liters Ta1f
culture medium were inoculated with 5-5 liters each. The cultivation was continued
for 24 hours, under the above fermentation circumstances, then the culture grown on
the Ta1f culture medium in the soil, 50 liters of the culture grown on the Tali culture
medium was used to inoculate 1000 liters of sterilized Ta1f culture medium. The
cultivation was carried out under the above fermentation circumstances for 24 hours,
then, followed the inspection, the culture was ready for use. In the case of an
unusually intensive foaming, 0,01 % polypropylene-glycol as antifoaming agent was
added.
6B. Cultivation on semi-minimal culture medium:
The procedure given in example No. 6 was repeated with the difference that
instead of the Ta1f culture medium the Ta2f culture medium of the following
composition was used:
*The composition of the trace element solution is in conformity
with that in example No. 1.
After completion of the cultivations, the cultures contain, depending on
the bacterium, 1-7x108 cells per milliliter.
Example No. 7.
____________Improvement of the soil structure and plant cultivation experi-
ments
7A. Experiments for the improvement of the soil structures
Sandy soil collected at the Danube, near to Somlyosziget and the clay
soils from EszLergom were placed in trays of 90 x SO cm, the layer thickness
was 25 cm. The sand soil was treated with 10 g ammonium-nitrate and 5 g
calcium-phosphate per tray. Corn was sown in the tray, with 104 seeds per
tray. At the evaluation we have not taken the data of the five biggest and the
five most underdeveloped plants. The weight of the roots washed with distilled water
following a desiccation of two days, at a temperature of 45 °C were measured. Tray
No. 1 was abundantly watered, tray No. 2 at sowing abundantly watered but not at all
later on. The trays marked „a", were inoculated with as micro-organisms biosynthes-
izing the polysaccharides the cultures of the micro-organism groups Bacillus
polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IPI B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM
IPI B 001291), Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/ and
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/, deposited in the Na-
tional Collection of the Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms, prepared accord-
ing to example No. 6., with 108 cells for one square meter from each bacterium. The
„b"-marked trays were not treated with micro-organisms.
In Table No. 3, the results obtained on the 33rd day following the sowing are
shown. The results are expressed with the average values counted for one plant.
In table No. 4. the extent of crumbling and cracking of the not watered
sandy and clay soils (trays No. 2) is shown. By the extent of crumbling we
mean that the majority of the soil fragments scattered on a paper sheet and
not disintegrating in the course of a slight shaking is of a size below 2 mm (-),
between 2-5 mm (+), or over 5 mm (++).the extent of cracking of the soil sur-
face is marked so that lack of cracks is marked ++, the slight haircracks are
marked +, whilst the presence of the big lines of break, cracks characteristic
of the droughty soils is marked -.
Table No. 4.
It can be seen from the data of Tables No. 3. and 4. that the presence
of the micro-organisms biosynthesizing the polysaccharides improves the de-
velopment of the plants and the favorable soil structure.
7B. Field experiments
Experiments were performed at the Improvement and Cultivation
Technological Station of Mosonmagyarovar University, in 2000, in random
block arrangements repeated four times, with 10 liters of micro-organism
mixturemro/hectare. "~
Type of the experimental soil: Danube-region, thickness: 120-140 cm,
humus contents 2,4 %, rainfall: poor.
cording to the invention
8A. Preparation of micro-organism mixture :
The cultures Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IP I B
001293), Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292), Pseu-
domonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IP/ B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa
var. SW17 (NCAIM IP I B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM /
PI B 001291), Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IP/ B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IP I B 001302/ and Strepto-
myces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IP I B 001301/ prepared according to ex-
ample No. 6 were mixed, optimally in equal proportions and applied in the
soil to be treated, in a quantity between 5 liters and 50 liters, optimally in a
quantity of 12 liters/ha, in any frost-free period of the year, optimally between
March and October.
8B. Preparation for the treatment of monocotyledons
Following the procedure according to example No. 6. a prepa-
ration was made with the difference that the following micro-organisms were
used:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IP I B 001293), Azotobac-
ter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292), Pseudomonas fluorescens
var. SW1T7NCAIM /p/ B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IP/
B 001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IP I B 001291), and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IP I B 001301/.
8C. Preparation for the treatment of dicotyledons
Following the method according to example No. 6 with the difference that the
following micro-organisms were used, :
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IP I B 001293), Azotobacter
vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292), Pseudomonas fluorescens var.
SW11 (NCAIM IP I B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IP I B
001295/, Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IP I B 001291), Micrococ-
cus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IP I B 001294/, Bradyrhizobium japonicum var.
PH25 (NCAIM IP I B 001302/, preparation according to the invention was pre-
pared.
8D. Making of preparation dried in frozen condition
2 liters from the water micro-organism suspension according to example No. 6
were lyophilized in a Gelman SP54 lyophilizing equipment, acting according to the in-
structions of use of the equipment. The dry micro-organism powder was used in itself
or depending on the use, mixed with calcium-carbonate, starch, glucose, or cellulose
in proportions between 1:1 and 1:100, then storing the preparation until the use, at a
temperature between 4 and 10 °C.
8E. Making of preparation containing carrier:
Optimally equal proportion of the cultures prepared on the culture
medium according to the example No. 6 were mixed with organic manure,
soy flour (4 mesh general grain size), methyl-cellulose or potato starch, so
that the preparation should contain 5x108 -1010, optimally 5x109 micro-
organism cells, then the wet preparation or the preparation dried at a tempera-
ture below 40°C, in quantity 2 and 20, optimally in the quantity of 5 kg/ha was
applied in the soil to be treated. Optimally at least 1013 micro-organism cells
per hectare were incorporated in the soil.
WE CLAIM:
1. Preparations suitable for treatment of the soil and plant seeds, which con-
tain alive micro-organism or micro-organisms capable of propagating in different soil-
types in the environment of a plant, characterized by containing, in a quantity of 5 x
10s - 1011, preferably 107 - 1010 cells/g, the culture of Azotobacter vinelandii ssp.
M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292) and one or more of the following mutated micro-
organisms:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IP I B 001293),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IP I B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IP I B 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IP I B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IP I B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IP/ B 001302/ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IP I B 001301/,
the said mutated micro-organisms propagating also at low temperature preferably
below 20°C, as well as in soils with low pH, deposited in the National Collection of
the Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms, Budapest, Hungary, with agricultur-
ally acceptable wet or dry carriers acceptable from agricultural point of view and non-
toxic for the micro-organisms.
2. Preparations as claimed in claim 1, containing water and/or soybean flour
and/or starch and/or cellulose and/or glucose as carrier.
3. Preparations as claimed in claims 1 or 2, containing as mutated micro-
organism:
Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292),
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IP I B 001293),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IP I B 001296) and
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IP I B 001291),
4. Process for the preparation of products suitable for the treatment of soil and
plant seeds and/or preparations containing alive micro-organism or micro-organisms
capable of propagating in different soil-types in the environment of a plant also at low
temperature, preferably below 20°C and low pH, , characterised by cultivating separ-
ately or together, on a culture medium containing carbon- and nitrogen source and
inorganic salts Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292) and one or
more of the following mutated micro-organisms:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM PI B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM 191 B 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IP I B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IP I B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IP/ B 001302/ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IP I B 001301/,
deposited in the National Collection of the Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms
until reaching the cell number between 5 x 10a and 5 x 109 per milliliter, optionally
mixing the culture or cultures obtained in a specified proportion or optionally deposit-
ing the culture(s) on the carrier or mixing therewith and optionally freeze-drying in a
traditional manner.
5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein as carbon-source glucose and/
or saccharose and/or molasses, as nitrogen source ammonium-chloride and/or am-
monium nitrate and/or ammonium-sulphate and/or com steep liquor and/or casein-
hydrolyzate and as inorganic salt calcium-carbonate and salts dissociating on sodi-
um-, potassium-, magnesium-, calcium-, ferro-, nitrate-, chloride-, sulphate-, carbon-
ate-, phosphate-ions, and trace elements are used.
6. Mutated micro-organisms, capable of being used in the preparations as
claimed in claim 1, said mutated microorganisms optimally propagating also at a tem-
perature below 20 °C and low pH, deposited in the National Collection of the
Agricultural and Industrial Micro-organisms, Budapest, Hungary, under the following
numbers:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IP I B 001293),
Azotobacter vinelandiii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B 001292),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IP I B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IP I B 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301/.
7. Process for the preparation of the mutated micro-organisms as claimed in
claim 6 which involves taking soil sample from the environment of plants, from the
upper (top) layer of 40 cm of a given type of soil, identifying the selected micro-or-
ganisms, applying a ireaimenl with inulaiion agents, preferably, nitrcsG-guanidir.c
and/or radiation, and isolating the variants multiplying also at low temperature.
8. Preparation as claimed in claim 1 or 2, for improving or maintaining the soil
structure, which contains as mutated microorganism, in addition to Azotobacter
vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IP I B001292), Bacillus polymyxa vas. SW17 (NCAIM
IP I B001295), Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM /P/B001292), Micrococcus
roseus spp A21 (NCAIM IP/ B001294) and optionally Bradyrhizobium japonicum var.
PH25 (NCAIM/P/B001302).

There is disclosed preparations suitable for treatment of the soil and plant
seeds, which contain alive micro-organism or micro-organisms capable of propagating
in different soil-types in the environment of a plant, characterized by containing,
in a quantity of 5 x 106 - 1011, preferably 107- 1010cells/g, the culture of Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM IPI B 001292) and optionally of one or more of the following
micro-organisms:
Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM IPI B 001293),
Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM IPI B 001296),
Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM IPI B 001295/,
Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM IPI B 001291),
Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM IPI B 001294/,
Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM IPI B 001302/ and
Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM IPI B 001301/,
the said micro-organisms propagating also at low temperature preferably below
20°C, as well as in soils with low pH, deposited in the National Collection of the Agricultural
and Industrial Micro-organisms, Budapest, Hungary, with agriculturally acceptable
wet or dry carriers acceptable from agricultural point of view and non-toxic
for the micro-organisms.
A process for obtaining such preparation is also disclosed.

Documents:


Patent Number 240480
Indian Patent Application Number 183/KOLNP/2004
PG Journal Number 20/2010
Publication Date 14-May-2010
Grant Date 12-May-2010
Date of Filing 11-Feb-2004
Name of Patentee AGRO. BIO HUNGARY KFT.
Applicant Address BALKAN U.8., H-1107 BUDAPEST
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KISS GYORGY BOTOND SZABADSAJTO U. 48., H-6725 SZEGED
2 OTT ISTVAN BENCZUR U. 2., III.E./6., H-1068 BUDAPEST
PCT International Classification Number C05F 11/08
PCT International Application Number PCT/HU2002/00081
PCT International Filing date 2002-08-12
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 P0103294 2001-08-13 Hungary