Venkatachalam Lakshmanan

US Patent:

20140080709, Mar 20, 2014

Filed:

Sep 13, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/026425

Inventors:

Amutha Sampath Kumar - Newark DE, US
Venkatachalam Lakshmanan - Newark DE, US
Thimmaraju Rudrappa - Bangalore, IN

Assignee:

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE - NEWARK DE

International Classification:

A01N 37/36
A01N 35/02

US Classification:

504320, 504348

Abstract:

A method for promoting the health of a plant comprises administering malic acid to the plant or the soil in an amount effective to recruit plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to the plant. Administration of malic acid promotes biofilm formation of PGPR on the plant's roots, thereby restricting entry of a foliar pathogen through stomatal pores present in the leaves. Another method for promoting the health of a plant comprises administering acetoin to the plant or the soil in an amount effective to increase pathogen resistance in aerial parts of the plant.

US Patent:

20140315715, Oct 23, 2014

Filed:

Apr 14, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/252346

Inventors:

- Newark DE, US
Darla Janine Sherrier - Hockessin DE, US
Venkatachalam Lakshmanan - Newark DE, US

Assignee:

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE - Newark DE

International Classification:

A01N 63/02

US Classification:

504117, 424 93462

Abstract:

Methods for producing greater biomass in a plant, increasing the drought tolerance of a plant, producing a decreased lignin concentration in a plant, producing a greater iron concentration in a plant, or inhibiting fungal infection in a plant comprise administering FB17 to the plant, the seed of the plant, or soil surrounding the plant or the seed in an amount effective to produce greater biomass, increase the drought tolerance, produce a decreased lignin concentration, produce a greater iron concentration, or inhibit fungal infection in the plant compared to an untreated plant, respectively. Agricultural carriers and seed coatings comprising FB17 are provided. The biomass of a plant which has been administered FB17 can be converted to a biofuel or can be used as a food crop or in other uses.