Methods and Compositions for Spray Drying Gram-Negative Bacteria

Abstract

Methods for spray drying gram negative bacteria are provided. Such spray drying methods are performed under conditions that allow for the spray dried composition to retain the biological activity of interest of the gram-negative bacteria. Further provided are compositions comprising a spray dried gram-negative bacteria, where the spray dried formulation comprises at least 10 5 CFU/gram of said gram-negative bacteria. The gram-negative bacteria employed in the various methods and compositions can comprise a biological activity of interest which, in specific embodiments, controls one or more pathogens that cause plant disease and/or improve at least one agronomic trait of interest. The spray dried formulation can be used as an inoculant for plants. Methods for growing a plant susceptible to plant disease and methods and compositions for controlling plant disease are also provided. Further provided are methods and compositions of increasing disease resistance in plants. Methods and compositions for improving plant health and/or improving at least one agronomic trait of interest are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A formulation comprising a spray dried gram-negative bacteria composition, wherein the spray dried gram-negative bacteria composition retains the biological activity of interest of the gram-negative bacteria and said spray dried formulation comprises at least 10 5  CFU/gram of said gram-negative bacteria. 
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein said spray dried formulation comprises at least 10 5  CFU/gram to about 10 12  CFU/gram. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said spray dried gram-negative bacteria composition comprises a non-polymeric and a non-oil formulation. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of any one of  claim 1 ,  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein the viability of the gram-negative bacteria in the formulation does not reduce by more than 10-fold when stored for at least 1 month at 25 degree C. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the gram-negative bacteria is a  Pseudomonas.    
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 5 , wherein the gram-negative bacteria was deposited as NRRL No. BB-50897. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein said formulation comprises a primary spray dried powder. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein said formulation comprises a final spray dried powder. 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing a spray dried formulation comprising a gram-negative bacteria comprising
 a. forming a spray dryer feed comprising the gram negative bacteria; and   b. spray drying the spray dryer feed to form a primary spray dried powder,   wherein the spray drying of step (b) is performed under conditions such that the primary spray dried powder retains the biological activity of interest of the gram-negative bacteria and comprises at least 10 5  CFU/gram of said gram-negative bacteria.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the resistance time in the tower is about 6 seconds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the spray dryer feed further comprises maltodextrin. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the maltodextrin is present in an amount of about 10% to about 20% of the cell paste mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 ,  10 ,  11  or  12 , wherein said primary spray dried powder comprises at least 10 5  CFU/gram to about 10 12  CFU/gram. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , or  13 , wherein said composition comprising the spray dryer feed comprises a non-polymeric and a non-oil formulation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of  claims 9 - 14 , wherein the viability of the gram-negative bacteria in the primary spray dried powder does not reduce by more than 10-fold when stored for at least 1 month at 25 degrees C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any one of  claims 9 - 15 , wherein the gram-negative bacteria is a  Pseudomonas.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the gram-negative bacteria was deposited as NRRL No. B-50897. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any one of  claims 9 - 17 , wherein the spray dryer feed comprises glycerol. 
     
     
         19 . The method of any one of  claims 9 - 18 , wherein the spray dryer feed comprises maltodextrin.