Endophytic microbial strains as biocatalysts isolated from fresh plant samples, compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant in the presence of reduced synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are provided. Endophytic microbial strains serve as biocatalysts to solubilize organic (proteinaceous) nitrogen otherwise unavailable to plants for their nutritional needs. Thus defined, biocatalysts will serve to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Also provided are materials and methods for inoculating plants with these biocatalysts at carefully selected inoculum densities to reliably reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer by 50% thus accomplishing optimal yields in technically and cost-effective manner.

Methods of controlling agricultural pests are disclosed. An aerated liquid mixture is formed from a composition containing a bacterial nutrient source, a nitrogen-containing compound, a phosphate-containing compound, a magnesium-containing compound, a buffer, a chitinase inducer, and at least one strain of bacteria that produces chitinase. The liquid mixture is administered to soil and plants, and acts as an organic biological pesticide.

Methods of controlling agricultural pests are disclosed. An aerated liquid mixture is formed from a composition containing a bacterial nutrient source, a nitrogen-containing compound, a phosphate-containing compound, a magnesium-containing compound, a buffer, a chitinase inducer, and at least one strain of bacteria that produces chitinase. The liquid mixture is administered to soil and plants, and acts as an organic biological pesticide.

Methods of controlling agricultural pests are disclosed. An aerated liquid mixture is formed from a composition containing a bacterial nutrient source, a nitrogen-containing compound, a phosphate-containing compound, a magnesium-containing compound, a buffer, a chitinase inducer, and at least one strain of bacteria that produces chitinase. The liquid mixture is administered to soil and plants, and acts as an organic biological pesticide.

Methods of controlling agricultural pests are disclosed. An aerated liquid mixture is formed from a composition containing a bacterial nutrient source, a nitrogen-containing compound, a phosphate-containing compound, a magnesium-containing compound, a buffer, a chitinase inducer, and at least one strain of bacteria that produces chitinase. The liquid mixture is administered to soil and plants, and acts as an organic biological pesticide.

A liposome composition having a lipid bilayer membrane, made of a crude or de-oiled lecithin, at least one triglyceride, a non-triglyceride active agent, and conditioned water. The liposome composition may be utilized for purposes and treatments including increased plant growth, insecticide or insect repellant, inhibiting fruit decay, forensic labeling of plants, wound treatment, and cosmetic applications.

A liposome composition having a lipid bilayer membrane, made of a crude or de-oiled lecithin, at least one triglyceride, a non-triglyceride active agent, and conditioned water. The liposome composition may be utilized for purposes and treatments including increased plant growth, insecticide or insect repellant, inhibiting fruit decay, forensic labeling of plants, wound treatment, and cosmetic applications.

A Biological Control Agent (BCA) system comprising processed parasitized mealybug mummies is disclosed. The processed and modified parasitized mealybug mummies are essentially devoid of their limbs and waxy covering. In the novel BCA system the modified parasitized mealybug mummies are processed in a manner that strips off their waxy covering and detaches their limbs without impacting on their viability as a host for parasitoid pupae. The modified parasitized mealybug mummies of the BCA system are encased in specially adapted packaging for delivering and distributing the modified parasitized mealybug mummies to plants with mealybug infestations. A method of preparing and storing the modified parasitized mealybug mummies as a BCA is also presented.

Provided herein are methods for using RNAi molecules targeting a proteasome beta 5 (PSMB5) gene for controlling Coleopteran insects, methods for producing RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5, and compositions comprising RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5.

Provided herein are methods for using RNAi molecules targeting a proteasome beta 5 (PSMB5) gene for controlling Coleopteran insects, methods for producing RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5, and compositions comprising RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5.