Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spore container to store spores, a nutrient container, an arrangement of valves and tubes, a reciprocating pump, a mixing tube, and a holding tank. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can control the reciprocating pump to draw a ratioed volume of the spores, the nutrients, and water through the valves and tubes. During an expelling phase of the system, the controller can control flow control valves to direct the spores, nutrients, and water through the mixing tube and into the holding tank. The controller can also direct a heater to heat the mixture in the holding tank to a predetermined temperature. Once the mixture reaches the temperature, the controller can also direct the system through a number of other phases of operation, including cooling and purging phases.

Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spore container to store spores, a nutrient container, an arrangement of valves and tubes, a reciprocating pump, a mixing tube, and a holding tank. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can control the reciprocating pump to draw a ratioed volume of the spores, the nutrients, and water through the valves and tubes. During an expelling phase of the system, the controller can control flow control valves to direct the spores, nutrients, and water through the mixing tube and into the holding tank. The controller can also direct a heater to heat the mixture in the holding tank to a predetermined temperature. Once the mixture reaches the temperature, the controller can also direct the system through a number of other phases of operation, including cooling and purging phases.

Described is an isolated strain of the fungus Colonostachys rosea termed BVT Cr-7 useful as a biological control agent for the treatment of plants. The isolated strain, formulations comprising said strain and/or spores derived from said strain may be applied to plants or plant materials in order to improve plant yield, to improve plant growth, or for the treatment or prevention of diseases or pathogens in the plant.

Signal sequences useful for targeting proteins and peptides to the surface of endospores produced by Paenibacillus family members and methods of using the same are provided. The display of heterologous molecules, such as peptides, polypeptides and other recombinant constructs, on the spore surface of Paenibacillus family members, using particular N-terminal targeting sequences and derivatives of the same, and likewise are provided.

Signal sequences useful for targeting proteins and peptides to the surface of endospores produced by Paenibacillus family members and methods of using the same are provided. The display of heterologous molecules, such as peptides, polypeptides and other recombinant constructs, on the spore surface of Paenibacillus family members, using particular N-terminal targeting sequences and derivatives of the same, and likewise are provided.

Provided are methods and compositions useful for producing filamentous fungal cells and compounds produced by such cells that have utility in a variety of applications. In one aspect, provided herein is a method for producing a SLR from a filamentous fungal cell, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) growing the filamentous fungal cell in a first medium comprising a first carbon source to obtain an actively growing mycelial culture, and b) replacing the first medium of the actively growing mycelial culture with a second medium comprising a second carbon source to induce production of the SLR; wherein the first carbon source comprises a metabolizable carbon compound, wherein the second carbon source comprises only non-metabolizable carbon compounds, and wherein the second medium comprises no other carbon source than the second carbon source.

The disclosure provides a method of screening tobacco germplasm for resistance to Alternaria alternata by ripening seedling leaves. The method includes ripening seedling leaves, spray inoculation, disease induction, and evaluation of disease resistance. Dense planting, fertilizer control, and potassium increment were used to forcibly ripening seedling leaves. A hospitable environment was simulated to induce disease in the ripened leaves. These treatments reduce differences in leaf maturity and avoid environmental changes. The technique of the disclosure provides greater accuracy and repeatability than the current technique of screening brown spot resistance, and offers the advantages of simple operation, reduced cost, space requirement, and labor intensity, high selection efficiency, and an accurate screening of tobacco phenotypes with resistance to brown spot, etc., used for large-scale screening of tobacco varieties with resistance to brown spot.

Provided herein are compositions and formulations that are useful for stabilizing one or more bacteria (e.g., through drying). Methods of stabilizing the one or more bacteria are also disclosed.

Provided herein are compositions and formulations that are useful for stabilizing one or more bacteria (e.g., through drying). Methods of stabilizing the one or more bacteria are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a preparation method of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill microsclerotium and a formulation thereof, and an application of the formulation thereof, belonging to the technical field of microsclerotium formulation preparation; the Beauveria bassiana microsclerotium formulation is prepared by the following steps of: 1) mixing conidia of Beauveria bassiana with Tween® 20 aqueous solution to obtain spore suspension; 2) inoculating the prepared spore suspension into a liquid induction medium for induction culture to obtain microsclerotium; 3) mixing the prepared microsclerotium with a padding for drying to obtain dried microsclerotium; 4) mixing the prepared dried microsclerotium with an auxiliary to obtain a microsclerotium formulation. The Beauveria bassiana microsclerotium formulation produced by the method has low production cost, strong product tolerance and good insecticidal activity, moreover, after rehydrated, the formulation may rapidly germinate hyphae and produce spores to infect pests.