MICROBIAL BIOSURFACTANTS COMPRISING RHAMNOLIPIDS AS AN AGENT FOR CONTROLLING PESTS

摘要

The present invention relates to method and compositions, based upon naturalmicrobialbiosurfactants, for controlling pests. According to an embodiment, the presentinventioncomprises a method including obtaining a microbial biosurfactant having arhamnolipid, andproviding the microbial biosurfactant to one or more pests in an amount suchthat the one ormore pests are controlled, wherein the pests are nematodes. According toanother embodiment,the method comprises obtaining a biosurfactant-producing microbe that producesa rhamnolipid;and providing the microbe to one or more pests in an amount such that themicrobe produces therhamnolipid in an amount such that the pests are controlled, wherein the pestsare nematodes.According to a further embodiment, the present invention comprises a methodfor producing abiosurfactant for use in controlling pests, and comprises cultivating abiosurfactant-producingmicrobe that produces a rhamnolipid, including producing a fermentation brothcontaining therhamnolipid; and from the fermentation broth, obtaining the rhamnolipid in aconcentration thatcan be provided to pests in an amount such that the pests are controlled,wherein the pests arenematodes.