Invention:
This technology leverages seed-associated bacterial endophytes to enhance the traits of tepary beans and other legumes. The inventors developed a novel workflow to isolate and screen beneficial microbes from seeds, allowing for predictive assessment of plant growth benefits such as phosphate solubilization, ammonium production, and siderophore activity. Two promising endophytes were identified and tested in field trials, where they improved seedling traits without disrupting the plant’s microbiome. These microbial inoculants can be used to enhance plant traits such as stress tolerance, growth, yield, and performance in arid environments.
Background:
Many technologies perform plant improvement via microbiomes, but this technology improves upon existing methods by providing a screening process and allowing for the use of predictive methods. This technology addresses those gaps with a targeted screening approach and specific microbial strains, focused on legumes—particularly tepary beans, which are valued for their drought tolerance and nutritional content as a plant-based protein source.
Applications:
- Agriculture
- Crop improvement
- Sustainability farming
Advantages:
- Improved stress tolerance
- Increased growth and yield
- Improved resilience in arid regions
