Claims
- 1. A method for maintaining a microorganism comprising the steps of:
- (i) selecting a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Serratia, Arthrobacter, Azospirillium, Rhizobium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida which has a beneficial effect on growth or yield of a plant;
- (ii) providing a solution comprising about 0.01% to about 20% of a substantially soluble, non-crosslinked polysaccharide having no more than about 10% of crosslinking;
- (iii) preparing a suspension of said microorganism;
- (iv) mixing the suspension of the microorganism with the polysaccharide solution to form a pourable composition which, at 4.degree. C.-30.degree. C., is a liquid, said composition comprising from about 0.005% to about 10% by weight of the non-crosslinked polysaccharide; and
- (v) storing the composition.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said non-crosslinked polysaccharide is alginate.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said alginate is present in said composition at a concentration of between 0.1-10%.
- 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of drying said composition before said composition is stored.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said drying is accomplished by air drying.
- 6. The method of any of claims 2, 3, 5, 1 or 4 wherein said composition is stored at a temperature of from about 4.degree. C. to about 30.degree. C. for a period of at least one week.
- 7. A method for inoculating a plant seed with a microorganism comprising the steps of:
- (i) selecting a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Serratia, Arthrobacter, Azospirillium, Rhizobium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida which has a beneficial effect on growth of yield of a plant;
- (ii) providing a solution comprising about 0.01% to about 20% of a substantially soluble, non-crosslinked polysaccharide having no more than about 10% of crosslinking;
- (iii) preparing a suspension of said microorganism;
- (iv) mixing the suspension of the microorganism with the polysaccharide solution to form a pourable composition which, at 4.degree. C.-30.degree. C., is a liquid, said composition comprising from about 0.005% to about 10% by weight of the non-crosslinked polysaccharide; and
- (v) storing the composition;
- (vi) contacting the plant seed with said composition; and
- (vii) allowing said composition to inoculate the plant seed.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said non-crosslinked polysaccharide is alginate.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said alginate is present in said composition at a concentration of between 0.1-10%.
- 10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of drying said composition before said composition is stored.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said drying is accomplished by air drying.
- 12. The method of any of claims 8, 9, 11, 7 or 10 wherein said composition is stored at a temperature of from about 4.degree. C. to about 30.degree. C. for a period of at least one week.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/563,800, filed Aug. 6, 1990, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/385,926, filed Jul. 27, 1989, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/892,078, filed Aug. 1, 1986, all now abandoned.
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Continuations (3)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
563800 |
Aug 1990 |
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Parent |
385926 |
Jul 1989 |
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Parent |
892078 |
Aug 1986 |
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