Preparation for the protection of emerging sugar beets against damping-off, and method of its production

• US 4,259,317 A
• Filed: 07/05/1979
• Issued: 03/31/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vyzkummy Ustav Rostlinne Vyroby
• Original Assignee: Vyzkummy Ustav Rostlinne Vyroby
• Inventors: Vesely, Dasa, Hejdanek, Slavomil
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US06/054,793
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 424/93, 47/57.6, 71/77
• US Class Current: 424/93.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/08 Immunising seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/08 containing solids as carriers or diluents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/00 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a dry powdered preparation to be applied onto sugar beet seeds, the preparation containing, as its active constituent, organs of reproduction of Pythium oligandrum Drechsler, particularly the oospores, in a sufficiently high concentration of at least about 1,000,000, preferably at least about 4,000,000 per gram (optimum in the range 50,000,000-500,000,000 per gram). Such concentrations make it possible to apply about 100,000 oospores or more onto every seed, which proved sufficient to secure protection of emerging sugar beet plants against "damping off" or "black leg" disease. Although the mycoparasitism of Pythium oligandrum has been discovered many years ago, its use for biological protection required a lot of research work establishing the conditions necessary for obtaining reliable results on a field scale.

Claims

1. A preparation for the protection of emerging sugar beets against damping-off and for simultaneously stimulating the growth of seedlings when applied in the amount of at least 100,000 oospores on each of the seeds, such preparation comprising a dried and powdered grain substrate fermented with Pythium oligandrum Drechsler and containing at least about 1,000,000 oospores per gram.

2. A preparation according to claim 1, wherein the preparation contains from about 50,000,000 to 500,000,000 oospores per gram.

3. A method of manufacturing a preparation for the protection of emerging sugar beet plants against damping-off, and also for stimulating the growth of seedlings when applied on seeds, said method comprising wetting grain material with a liquid nutrient, fermenting the wetted material with Pythium oligandrum Drechsler, drying the fermented material and grinding it at temperatures not exceeding 35°

C., the fermented material containing at least 1,000,000 oospores of Pythium oligandrum Drechsler per gram of dry substance.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the wetted material is spread on flat plates, and is irradiated during the fermentation by visible light, using blue or green filters.