US 11,866,698 B2
Accelerated directed evolution of microbial consortia for the development of desirable plant phenotypic traits
Peter Wigley, Parnell (NZ); Caroline George, Parnell (NZ); and Susan Turner, Parnell (NZ)
Assigned to BioConsortia, Inc., Davis, CA (US)
Filed by BioConsortia, Inc., Davis, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/862,028.
Application 17/862,028 is a continuation of application No. 16/686,681, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,466,266, issued on Oct. 11, 2022.
Application 16/686,681 is a continuation of application No. 15/676,594, filed on Aug. 14, 2017, granted, now 10,526,599, issued on Jan. 7, 2020.
Application 15/676,594 is a continuation of application No. 15/178,143, filed on Jun. 9, 2016, granted, now 9,732,336, issued on Aug. 15, 2017.
Application 15/178,143 is a continuation of application No. 14/991,543, filed on Jan. 8, 2016, granted, now 9,365,847, issued on Jun. 14, 2016.
Application 14/991,543 is a continuation of application No. 14/835,867, filed on Aug. 26, 2015, granted, now 9,260,713, issued on Feb. 16, 2016.
Application 14/835,867 is a continuation of application No. 14/218,920, filed on Mar. 18, 2014, granted, now 9,150,851, issued on Oct. 6, 2015.
Application 14/218,920 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/NZ2013/000171, filed on Sep. 19, 2013.
Claims priority of application No. 602532 (NZ), filed on Sep. 19, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0351174 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12N 15/10 (2006.01); G06F 3/0488 (2022.01); G06Q 20/12 (2012.01); G06Q 20/32 (2012.01); G06Q 30/06 (2023.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); A01H 3/00 (2006.01); C12N 1/20 (2006.01); G06F 3/04817 (2022.01); A01N 63/30 (2020.01); A01N 63/36 (2020.01); A01N 63/20 (2020.01); A01N 63/22 (2020.01); A01N 63/27 (2020.01); A01N 63/28 (2020.01); A01N 63/00 (2020.01)
CPC C12N 15/1058 (2013.01) [A01H 3/00 (2013.01); A01N 63/00 (2013.01); A01N 63/20 (2020.01); A01N 63/22 (2020.01); A01N 63/27 (2020.01); A01N 63/28 (2020.01); A01N 63/30 (2020.01); A01N 63/36 (2020.01); C12N 1/20 (2013.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G06F 3/04817 (2013.01); G06Q 20/12 (2013.01); G06Q 20/322 (2013.01); G06Q 30/06 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0641 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
 
1. A method for producing a microbial composition that promotes the development of a beneficial phenotypic plant trait, comprising:
(a) growing a plurality of plants in a growth medium, in the presence of a first microbial community;
(b) selecting at least one plant from said plurality of plants, following step (a), based upon a beneficial phenotypic trait exhibited by the plant relative to other plants of said plurality;
(c) acquiring a second microbial community from the at least one plant selected in step (b);
(d) repeating steps (a) to (c) in an iterative manner, wherein the second microbial community acquired in step (c) is used as an inoculum in step (a) of any successive repeat;
(e) acquiring a microbial community that is associated with promoting the development of a beneficial phenotypic plant trait and placing said microbial community in a medium;
(f) separating the microbial community from the medium after a period of time to provide one or more microbial composition substantially free of microorganisms; and
(g) applying the one or more composition of (f) to a plant or plant part, wherein the plant or plant part exhibits a beneficial phenotypic trait, as compared to a plant or plant part not having said microbial composition applied.