Boosting Plant Health with Beneficial Microbes Inside Plants
This patent describes ways to improve plant health by introducing helpful microorganisms, called endophytes, into plants or their parts.
Original patent title: “Endophyte compositions and methods for improved plant health”
This patent describes ways to improve plant health by introducing helpful microorganisms, called endophytes, into plants or their parts. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This invention focuses on improving plant health by using specific compositions and methods. It works by making a plant "heterologously disposed" to one or more endophytes, or by using plant parts that have already been treated this way. This means the plant is given endophytes that aren't naturally found in that specific plant species or location, or perhaps in those quantities. For example, a farmer might treat corn seeds with a liquid containing a specific beneficial fungus before planting, so the fungus grows inside the corn plant as it develops, helping it resist disease or grow stronger.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover improving plant health solely through traditional chemical fertilizers or pesticides applied externally.
- Does not cover plant health improvements achieved purely through genetic modification without introducing endophytes.
- Does not cover methods where endophytes are only present on the plant's surface, rather than inside the plant tissue.
- Does not cover general soil amendments or beneficial microbes that live only in the soil around the plant roots, not within the plant itself.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the concept of "heterologously disposing" a plant to endophytes. This means intentionally introducing beneficial microbes into a plant where they wouldn't normally be found, or in a way that significantly enhances their presence, to unlock specific health benefits.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Seed treatments with beneficial fungi or bacteria
Biofertilizers that colonize plant interiors
Biopesticides delivered internally to plants
Crop varieties enhanced with specific microbial partners
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Ensuring healthy plants is crucial for food production and environmental sustainability. This technology offers a way to enhance plant resilience and growth using natural biological agents, potentially reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. It could lead to more robust crops that are better equipped to handle stress from pests, diseases, or harsh environmental conditions.
Filed
April 22, 2022
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies in agricultural biotechnology and biological crop inputs are actively developing and commercializing products based on endophyte technology. Major players like Bayer CropScience, Corteva Agriscience, and Syngenta have divisions focused on biologicals. Specialized companies such as Indigo Ag and Bioceres Crop Solutions (which acquired Marrone Bio Innovations) are also significant innovators in this space, developing microbial solutions for crop enhancement.
Market impact
This patent contributes to a growing shift in agriculture towards more sustainable practices, reducing the need for synthetic chemical inputs. It supports the development of a new category of biological products that enhance plant resilience and productivity. The market for bio-stimulants and bio-pesticides, often leveraging endophytes, has seen significant growth, offering farmers new tools to improve yields and manage crop health more naturally.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This invention focuses on improving plant health by using specific compositions and methods. It works by making a plant "heterologously disposed" to one or more endophytes, or by using plant parts that have already been treated this way. This means the plant is given endophytes that aren't naturally found in that specific plant species or location, or perhaps in those quantities. For example, a farmer might treat corn seeds with a liquid containing a specific beneficial fungus before planting, so the fungus grows inside the corn plant as it develops, helping it resist disease or grow stronger.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the concept of "heterologously disposing" a plant to endophytes. This means intentionally introducing beneficial microbes into a plant where they wouldn't normally be found, or in a way that significantly enhances their presence, to unlock specific health benefits.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover improving plant health solely through traditional chemical fertilizers or pesticides applied externally.
- Does not cover plant health improvements achieved purely through genetic modification without introducing endophytes.
- Does not cover methods where endophytes are only present on the plant's surface, rather than inside the plant tissue.
- Does not cover general soil amendments or beneficial microbes that live only in the soil around the plant roots, not within the plant itself.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 15.5 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Boosting Plant Health with Beneficial Microbes Inside Plants (U.S. Patent No. 12,733,646). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733646/endophyte-compositions-and-methods-for-improved-plant-health
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12733646"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Boosting Plant Health with Beneficial Microbes Inside Plants cover?
This patent describes ways to improve plant health by introducing helpful microorganisms, called endophytes, into plants or their parts.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Ensuring healthy plants is crucial for food production and environmental sustainability. This technology offers a way to enhance plant resilience and growth using natural biological agents, potentially reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. It could lead to more robust crops that are better equipped to handle stress from pests, diseases, or harsh environmental conditions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover improving plant health solely through traditional chemical fertilizers or pesticides applied externally.
Patent monitoring