Auxin balancing biologics for enhanced plant growth
Innovative bacteria strains designed to degrade excess auxin in the rhizosphere, optimizing plant hormone balance and promoting growth. These biologics enhance crop resilience and can synergize with existing agrochemical practices.
Overview
Auxin balancing biologics represent a breakthrough in sustainable agriculture, offering a natural solution to optimize plant growth. Developed by Princeton University, these biologics consist of bacteria strains capable of degrading excess auxin in the rhizosphere. By regulating auxin levels, these strains enhance plant growth and resilience, making crops more robust against environmental stresses. The technology can be used alone or in synergy with auxin-based agrochemicals, providing a versatile tool for modern agriculture.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Wild-type and engineered strains: Developed to degrade excess auxin, these strains come in various forms, including wild-type, remodeled, and engineered versions with genes knocked in from other species.
- Compatibility: These strains are designed to work harmoniously with current agrochemical practices, potentially enhancing the efficacy of existing crop protection products.
- Potential applications: Effective as a seed treatment to promote beneficial plant-microbe interactions from germination and adaptable for various crop types.
Technology readiness level
This technology is at TRL 4, having demonstrated efficacy in lab-scale experiments. Future plans include expanding trials to greenhouse and growth chambers, with field trials pending regulatory approval.
About Princeton University
Princeton University is a private, research-intensive university in Princeton, New Jersey, known for a tightly integrated campus and a globally connected research enterprise. Industry partners engage through a dedicated corporate relations team that brokers sponsored research, consortia, and talent pipelines. Co-located assets include shared user facilities for advanced imaging and nanofabrication, a university-managed U.S. Department of Energy national lab, and a research park that hosts corporate collaborators. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, and NASA. A technology transfer office provides IP strategy, licensing, and startup support, complemented by an affiliated incubator and mentor network.
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