Background

As global agricultural challenges continue to escalate, such as climate change, land degradation, and the increasing severity of pests and diseases, the demand for efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions is increasing. As a green and sustainable solution, microbial agents have multiple functions such as promoting plant growth, enhancing crop resistance, and improving soil health, and therefore have received widespread attention. However, the actual effect of microbial agents depends largely on the scientific rationality of their formulation, which makes formulation optimization an essential step.

The formulation of inoculants is optimized to ensure that the active ingredients remain stable and effective under a variety of environmental conditions. By optimizing the fermentation formula, not only can the stability and utilization efficiency of bioactive ingredients be enhanced, but also the ease of use of the product and the durability of the application effect can be ensured. In addition, adding additives to enhance biological activity is also an important part of formula optimization. These auxiliaries can further improve the permeability and absorption efficiency of active ingredients, thereby exerting more significant yield increase and disease resistance effects.

Fig. 1. Beneficial effects of horticultural oil as a potential additive for liquid-based formulation of R. palustris PS3 inoculant. (Lee, et al., 2021)

The optimization of the formulation of agricultural microbial agents is not only a technical improvement, but also an important means to promote the sustainable development of agriculture. A reasonable formulation can not only improve the market competitiveness of products, but also reduce production costs and improve economic benefits.

Creative BioMart Microbe is committed to innovating fermentation processes and formula improvements, customizing products according to specific crops and regional conditions, so as to more accurately meet market needs and improve customer satisfaction. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Service Procedure

Service Details

Liquid Suspension Formulation Optimization

We provide professional liquid suspension production services. With deep expertise in microbiology and biotechnology, as well as GMP-compliant production facilities and equipment, we ensure that your products meet the highest quality requirements at every step from development to production. Our experimental methods include stability testing to evaluate the stability of products under different environmental conditions; particle size analysis to ensure the uniformity and suspensibility of suspended particles; and centrifugation and viscosity testing to check the stratification and flow characteristics of the formulation under different conditions. These services will help you optimize the formulation of liquid suspensions and enhance the market competitiveness of your products.

Dry Formulation Optimization

Our dry powder formulation service provides professional dry powder production, equipped with dedicated equipment and strong production capacity, and strictly adheres to ISO standard quality control system. Our services include hygroscopicity testing to ensure the stability and long-term storage of dry powders under different humidity conditions; particle size distribution testing to ensure the uniformity of dry powders to improve the solubility of products; and solubility testing to ensure that the product can be quickly dissolved or dispersed when used.

Leaf & Seed Treatment Solutions

We specialize in providing comprehensive development and optimization for foliar and seed treatment formulations. Relying on deep plant science and agronomy expertise, as well as the necessary regulatory certification, we ensure that your crop protection products are both safe and effective. Our experimental methods include plant activity testing to evaluate the impact of products on crops under different environmental conditions; surface tension and adhesion testing to ensure the effective attachment of formulations on plant leaves and seeds; and effect evaluation, through field trials to test the actual effect of treatment methods on crop growth and protection. Choosing our services, you will get full support from the laboratory to the field.

Bioactive Enhancer Development

We specialize in developing and testing active ingredient enhancers and adjuvants in the fields of chemistry and biotechnology to enhance the performance of agricultural microbial agents. We have professional technical capabilities in the fields of chemistry and biotechnology to ensure that the developed enhancers are fully compatible with the main formulation without compromising its activity. Our experimental methods include enhancer compatibility testing to ensure compatibility with the main formulation; bio-efficacy testing to evaluate the enhancing effect of enhancers on active ingredients; and repeated use testing to evaluate the long-term use effect of enhancers under different conditions. Through these services, we help customers improve the performance of fermentation products in the agricultural field and ensure stability and effectiveness in various application environments.

Our Advantages

• Professional technical team. We have a professional team composed of experts in microbiology, chemistry, agronomy and other fields. They are not only responsible for research and development, but also provide technical consultation and support to customers to ensure that the solutions provided are cutting-edge and effective.
• Comprehensive technical platform. We are equipped with advanced laboratories and fermentation facilities, which can carry out the whole process from laboratory research to pilot and large-scale production.
• Rich strain resource library. We have a rich microbial strain resource library, which provides a solid foundation for the development of diversified products to meet different needs in the market.
• Flexible solutions. We can provide personalized solutions according to the specific requirements of customers. Whether it is liquid suspension, dry powder preparation, or formulation for foliar and seed treatment, as well as adjuvants to enhance biological activity, the company has the ability to adjust and optimize.

Case Study

Case Study 1: Colonization and effectiveness of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens in enhancing soil phosphorus and cucumber growth.

Researchers studied the rhizosphere colonization and activity of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens qzr14, a new phosphate-solubilizing PGPM, in a 20-day cucumber pot experiment. Real-time PCR and DGGE monitored the strain's presence and bacterial diversity in rhizosphere and bulk soil, while soil phosphorus and cucumber biomass were also assessed. Inoculation with G. liquefaciens qzr14 enhanced bacterial diversity and the soluble phosphorus to total phosphorus ratio, indicating effective rhizosphere colonization and potential promotion of cucumber growth through its impact on soil phosphorus and bacterial communities.

Fig. 2. Effects of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens qzr14 inoculation on soil total phosphate (TP). (Wang, et al., 2017)

Case Study 2: Optimized fermentation of Bacillus velezensis BHZ-29 enhances biocontrol efficacy against cotton Verticillium wilt.

Optimizing the fermentation conditions for the Bacillus velezensis BHZ-29 strain significantly amplified its population to 3.39×1010 CFU/mL and enhanced its antibacterial titer to 158.85 mm/mL. This advancement not only heightened cotton growth metrics but also reduced the disease index by 93.8% in plants treated with the biofertilizer, showcasing B. velezensis BHZ-29's efficacy in mitigating cotton Verticillium wilt. The study provides a robust method for enhancing the strain's biocontrol potential, offering a viable biological solution to manage soilborne diseases in agriculture.

Fig. 3. Inhibition effect of four different inoculation concentrations of antagonistic bacteria against V. dahliae. (Shi, et al., 2024)

Case Study 3: Optimizing organic waste for antifungal production with Trichoderma species.

Addressing the issue of organic agricultural waste, particularly in Mediterranean Europe, has become a significant challenge due to the substantial amounts of waste generated from crops like olives and vines. The European Union promotes eco-friendly solutions to transform such waste into valuable resources. One such approach is utilizing this waste as a medium for solid-state fermentation (SSF) by fungal strains to produce compounds with antifungal properties, such as 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP) from Trichoderma species. This study aimed to optimize the use of locally available, inexpensive agricultural waste from Southeastern France to maximize 6-PP production. The resulting optimal mix for 6-PP production via SSF by Trichoderma consists of 18% wheat bran, 23% potato flakes, 20% olive pomace, 14% olive oil, 24% oatmeal, and 40% vine shoots.

Fig. 4. Response surface of the expected 6-PP yield for the experimental approach. (Hamrouni, et al., 2023)

FAQs

References:

1. Lee SK, Lur HS, Liu CT. From Lab to Farm: Elucidating the beneficial roles of photosynthetic bacteria in sustainable agriculture. Microorganisms. 2021;9(12):2453.
2. Wang J.; et al. The persistence and performance of phosphate-solubilizing Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens qzr14 in a cucumber soil. 3 Biotech. 2017;7(5):294.
3. Shi Y.; et al. Optimization of the fermentation media and growth conditions of Bacillus velezensis BHZ-29 using a Plackett-Burman design experiment combined with response surface methodology. Front Microbiol. 2024;15:1355369.
4. Hamrouni R.; et al. Statistical Experimental design as a new approach to optimize a solid-state fermentation substrate for the production of spores and bioactive compounds from Trichoderma asperellum. J Fungi (Basel). 2023;9(11):1123.