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US4375734A
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Protection of plants against frost injury using ice nucleation-inhibiting species-specific bacteriophages
Assignee: University Patents Inc
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Filing: 1981-08-17
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Granted: 1983-03-08
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Expires: 2001-08-17
Abstract
Abstract Frost-sensitive plants are protected against frost injury by topical application thereto of non-phytotoxic virulent bacteriophages which are species-specific to the ice-nucleating bacteria normally present on the plants. The bacteriophages selectively attack the ice-nucleating bacteria and inhibit their ice-nucleating activity, thereby reducing the temperature at which frost injury occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd M. Kozloff
- 👤 Russell C. Schnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:27
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01N; A01N63/00; A01N63/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for protecting frost-sensitive plants against frost injury comprising applying to the plants non-phytotoxic virulent bacteriophages which are species-specific to the ice-nucleating bacteria normally present on the plant, said application being at a time sufficiently prior to the onset of freezing temperature and in a sufficient concentration so as to inhibit the ice-nucleating activity of said bacteria, thereby reducing the temperature at which frost injury occurs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for protecting frost-sensitive plants against frost injury comprising applying to the plants non-phytotoxic virulent bacteriophages which are species-specific to the ice-nucleating bacteria normally present on the plant, said application being at a time sufficiently prior to the onset of freezing temperature and in a sufficient concentration so as to inhibit the ice-nucleating activity of said bacteria, thereby reducing the temperature at which frost injury occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said bacteriophages comprise phages which are species-specific to Erwinia herbicola.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said Erwinia herbicola-specific phages are Bacteriophage Erh 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said bacteriophages are applied to the plants in an aqueous suspension and in an amount sufficient to wet the plant leaves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said bacteriophages are applied to the plants by spraying.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said aqueous suspension contains said bacteriophages in a concentration of at least about 10 9 phage particles per ml of suspension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said bacteriophage concentration is within the range of from about 5×10 10 to about 2×10 15 phage particles per ml of suspension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said aqueous suspension is buffered to a pH within the range of from about 6.5 to about 7.5, and contains one or more additives selected from the group consisting of nutrients and protective agents for said bacteriophages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said aqueous suspension contains gelatin in a concentration sufficient to protect said bacteriophages against surface tension denaturation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said aqueous suspension is applied to the plants in an amount of up to about 0.1 ml per cm 2 of leaf surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said bacteriophages are applied to the plants in a senescent state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said bacteriophages are applied to the plants in an amount of at least about 10 10 phage particles per cm 2 of leaf surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said bacteriophages are applied to the plants at least 24 hours prior to the onset of freezing temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said bacteriophages are applied to the plants in combination with non-ice-nucleating bacteria in an amount sufficient to increase the proportion of the non-ice nucleating bacteria to ice-nucleating bacteria from that normally present on the plants.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4045910A
Cited
US4161084A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-07 | 1986-09-06 | 1987-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-07 | 1990-09-06 | 1991-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-07 | 1994-09-06 | 1995-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |