Provided is an isolated asporogenous strain of Clostridium tyrobutyricum bacterium comprising a single base pair mutation in a gene involved in the control of a sporulation process and methods of production thereof. Also provided is a feed ingredient comprising an isolated asporogenous strain of Clostridium tyrobutyricum bacterium, such as an asporogenous strain comprising a mutation in a gene involved in the control of a sporulation process.

Provided is an isolated asporogenous strain of Clostridium tyrobutyricum bacterium comprising a single base pair mutation in a gene involved in the control of a sporulation process and methods of production thereof. Also provided is a feed ingredient comprising an isolated asporogenous strain of Clostridium tyrobutyricum bacterium, such as an asporogenous strain comprising a mutation in a gene involved in the control of a sporulation process.

Determining a state of a fungal spore includes defining types of fluorescent biomolecules of interest within the spore. Color characteristics of fluorescent light corresponding to excitement of the fluorescent biomolecules of interest under UV light are stored. Air including the fungal spore is directed to a collection cartridge and trapped. The spore is illuminated with light including UV light. A color image of the spore is captured and analyzed to estimate concentrations of the fluorescent biomolecule of interest. The state of the spore is determined from the estimated concentrations.

Prokaryotic cells having a metal-phenolic network coating are disclosed, as are compositions including such cells, methods for their use, and methods for producing such cells.

A biological seed-coating agent (SCA) including a fermentation broth obtained based on co-cultivation of Trichoderma and Bacillus sequentially inoculated, and a preparation method thereof are provided. According to a principle of synthesis biology, Trichoderma that induces disease resistance and stress resistance and Bacillus that antagonizes pathogens and promotes crop growth are inoculated in stages for co-fermentation to prepare a microbial co-culture solution. The microbial co-culture solution is mixed with diatomaceous earth and brassinolide according to a specified ratio to prepare a biological SCA in a dosage form of a powder. The biological SCA includes high contents of spores and antagonistic and growth-promoting substances.

A biological seed-coating agent (SCA) including a fermentation broth obtained based on co-cultivation of Trichoderma and Bacillus sequentially inoculated, and a preparation method thereof are provided. According to a principle of synthesis biology, Trichoderma that induces disease resistance and stress resistance and Bacillus that antagonizes pathogens and promotes crop growth are inoculated in stages for co-fermentation to prepare a microbial co-culture solution. The microbial co-culture solution is mixed with diatomaceous earth and brassinolide according to a specified ratio to prepare a biological SCA in a dosage form of a powder. The biological SCA includes high contents of spores and antagonistic and growth-promoting substances.

A method of collecting fungal spores includes steps of producing fungal spores by fungal cells within a fungal culture; combining a hydrophobic liquid with the fungal culture; mixing the fungal culture after the step of combining the hydrophobic liquid with the fungal culture, to thereby free at least a portion of the fungal spores as freed fungal spores which are freed from the fungal cells, where the freed fungal spores are partitioned within at least a portion of the hydrophobic liquid; and collecting the at least a portion of the hydrophobic liquid including the freed fungal spores.

A method of producing fungal spores utilizing solid-state fermentation (SSF), the method including steps of combining, in a solid-state fermentation vessel, fungal spores and a solid substrate to produce a fungal culture; subjecting the fungal culture in the solid-state fermentation vessel to solid-state fermentation conditions; where the solid-state fermentation conditions include conditions for targeted production of further fungal spores by fungal cells relative to growth of the fungal cells; and collecting the further fungal spores.

A method of producing fungal spores utilizing solid-state fermentation (SSF), the method including steps of combining, in a solid-state fermentation vessel, fungal spores and a solid substrate to produce a fungal culture; subjecting the fungal culture in the solid-state fermentation vessel to solid-state fermentation conditions; where the solid-state fermentation conditions include conditions for targeted production of further fungal spores by fungal cells relative to growth of the fungal cells; and collecting the further fungal spores.

Fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member are provided. Recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins are also provided. Genetically inactivated Bacillus cereus family members and recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that overexpress exosporium proteins are also provided. Seeds coated with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and methods for using the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided. Various modifications of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that express the fusion proteins are further provided. Fusion proteins comprising a spore coat protein and a protein or peptide of interest, recombinant bacteria that express such fusion proteins, seeds coated with such recombinant bacteria, and methods for using such recombinant bacteria (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided.