Re: [compost_tea] New Invention

From: Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net>
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2004 14:19:02 -0800

I'd love to see if this holds up in court. This would mean that Hahn could=
 get a percentage from everyone using worm castings for anything. He could =
also sue the manufacturers of worm casting equipment for patent infringment=
 because they are abetting a user in a crime. Finally, he could sue the wo=
rms for creating the castings in a kind of tort measure. In other words, t=
he worms could be creating an attractive nuisance by making the castings an=
d allowing anyone to use them. Anyone who grows worms for a living would h=
ave to give him a percentage of their income because the worms they sell ma=
y produce castings that may control fungi and that would be patent infringm=
ent.

What a wonderful world we live in. Out where I live, we have a guy in a wh=
eelchair who sues small restaurants and stores for not having stat-of-the-a=
rt wheelchair access. We have had five coffee shops close down. In a one =
month period, he filed 200+ lawsuits. Most of the businesses settled for $=
2000 to him for being inconvenienced. So in a month, he made a little unde=
r $200K. He then moved on to another town. Some of the businesses are fig=
hting him and some simply closed their doors. Sounds like this Hahn guy is=
 just such an idiot.

Ted Peterson
EW/SOE
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Tom Jaszewski
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 10:57 AM
  Subject: [compost_tea] New Invention



       ( 1 of 3 )
       


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        United States Patent
       6,797,507
       
        Hahn
       September 28, 2004
       


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  Methods of using worm castings for fungal control

  Abstract

  The present invention describes a material and a method for controlling f=
ungi. The method consists of disposing a naturally formed chitinase about a=
n area to be protected. The naturally formed chitinase is produced from wor=
m castings and the worm castings may be disposed naturally, in the form of =
timed-release pellets, or in a liquid form. The area to be protected includ=
es plants and structures. The naturally formed chitinase may be disposed ab=
out the base of the plant or structure, or on the leaves of the plant.


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        Inventors:
       Hahn; George E. (205 Liszt Ave., Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007)
       
        Assignee:
       Hahn; George E. (Cardiff, CA)
       
        Appl. No.:
       247054
       
        Filed:
       September 20, 2002
       



        Current U.S. Class:
       435/252.4; 424/543; 424/93.1
       
        Intern'l Class:
       C12N 001/00; C12N 001/20; A61K 035/60; A01N 065/00
       
        Field of Search:
       435/243,252.4 424/543,93.1,435
       


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  References Cited [Referenced By]



        Other References


        M. Szczech, "Suppresiveness of Vermicompost against Fusarium Wilt o=
f Tomato," J Phytopathology 147.155-161, 1999 Berlin.
        Szczech "Suppressive Effect of a Commercial Earthworm Compost on so=
me Root Infecting Pathogens of Cabbage and Tomato, Biological Agriculture a=
nd Horticulture." 1993, vol. 10, pp 47-52, Great Britain.
       


  Primary Examiner: Brumback; Brenda
  Assistant Examiner: Winston; Randall


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  Parent Case Text


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  This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/784=
,283. filed Feb. 16, 2001 U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,503 entitled "Methods for Usi=
ng Worm Castings for Insect Repellancy," which claims benefit of 60/187,243=
 filed Mar. 3, 2000.


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  Claims


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  What is claimed is:

  1. A method of fungal control, the method consisting of disposing an effe=
ctive amount of worm castings about an area in need of fungal protection wh=
erein the level of chitinase producing microorganisms within the worm casti=
ng is at least 1 million CFU/gdw (Colony Forming Units/gram dry weight).

  2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing the worm castings =
about an area to be protected includes the step of forming the chitinase pr=
oducing microorganisms into timed-release pellets.

  3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing the worm castings =
about an area to be protected includes the step of forming the chitinase pr=
oducing microorganisms in a liquid.

  4. The method of claim 1 wherein the area to be protected is a plant, the=
 plant having a base and a leaf area, and the step of disposing the worm ca=
stings about the plant includes the step of disposing the chitinase produci=
ng microorganisms on the leaf area of the plant.

  5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of disposing the worm castings =
on the leaf area of the plant includes disposing the worm castings in liqui=
d form.

  6. The method of claim 4 wherein the plant additionally includes a root s=
tructure, a drip line, and a feeder root zone between the drip line and the=
 base of the plant and the step of disposing the worm castings about the pl=
ant includes disposing the worm castings on the feeder root zone.

  7. The method of claim 1 wherein the area to be protected is a structure,=
 the structure having a base, and the step of disposing the worm castings a=
bout the structure includes the step of disposing the worm castings on the =
ground adjacent the base of the structure.

  8. The method of claim 1 wherein the worm castings are hydroponically dis=
posed about the area to be protected.

  9. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of disposing the naturally form=
ed chitinase about an area to be protected includes the step of forming the=
 natural chitinase into timed-release pellets.


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  Description


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  BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

  1. Field of the Invention

  This invention describes a method of producing a biodegradable insect rep=
ellant and fungus fungal control, and more particularly to a method of usin=
g natural chitinase enzyme and the chitinase producing organisms as an inse=
ct repellant and a fungus control.

  2. Description of the Related Art

  Worm castings have been known as being very beneficial to promote plant g=
rowth for more than 100 years but they have not been know to be effective f=
or insect pest repellency applications. Research by Ohio State University t=
esting for the recommended application rate of worm castings for highest gr=
owth improvement recommended a 10%-20% mix. The rule given by Ohio State Un=
iversity to achieve these percentages was that a 1/2 inch layer worked into=
 the soil will provide a 10% ratio and a 1-inch layer worked into the soil =
will provide a 20% ratio.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,551 to Suslow describes a method of treating or prote=
cting plants, fruit and roots from fungal infections comprising the step of=
 applying an effective amount of an antibiotic-producing bacillus. Tests pe=
rformed Suslow showed a systemic entrance of the chitinase-producing organi=
sms when these were applied to the soil around the plants. Suslow did not d=
isclose the use of chitinase as an insect repellant.

  An article by Linda McGraw, New Plants Put a Hurt on Pests, published Feb=
. 18, 1999, describes the genetic engineering of tobacco plants by the inje=
ction of artificially produced chitinase. Plant material then consumed by i=
nsects causes the chitin of the insect to break down, making such insect su=
bject to disease by microorganisms. The McGraw article did not describe the=
 use of chitinase as an insect repellent.

  Using worm castings with a level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/=
gdw to repel various insects has many advantages. Worm castings are non-tox=
ic so provide a non-poisonous alternative to chemical pest treatments. The =
non-toxic nature of worm castings means the use should not harm other valua=
ble organisms found in soil. The fact that worm castings are a natural elem=
ent found in healthy soil indicates that harmful side effects should be lim=
ited. The elements found naturally in worm castings, which appear to be the=
 active elements to repel insects, are living organisms. This means that th=
e repellency could be provided for a longer time period unless the organism=
s are killed from a different source.

  BRIEF SUMMARY THE INVENTION

  The present invention deals with using worm castings as an insect repelle=
nt as a layer on the ground for walking insects, incorporated into the soil=
 feeding plants for pest insects, incorporated into the feeding liquid for =
hydroponic growing, and as liquid worm castings sprayed onto the leaves of =
plants for a topical treatment. The worm castings can be used on soil, turf=
, or in hydroponic applications.

  It was observed that ants refused to cross a layer of worm castings. When=
 a layer of worm castings was put around a tree or bush the reaction of the=
 ants was immediate. Ants in the tree or bush congregate in an agitated man=
ner just above the border of the worm castings. Soil that ants will easily =
cross tested at less than 1 million CFU/gdw (Colony Forming Units/gram dry =
weight). This supports that ants can detect and are averse to a level of ch=
itinase somewhere between 1 and 54 million CFU/gdw. Red fire ants are parti=
cularly averse to an application of worm castings. Testing has shown that r=
ed fire ants will abandon their nests within 24 hours with a 1/4 inch appli=
cation over and around the nest mound.

  Testing was done on many plants to determine if worm castings with a leve=
l of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw are able to change the level =
of chitinase in the leaves of plants. This invention describes a method of =
using worm castings in various methods to activate the natural insect repel=
lency produced by the chitinase-producing organisms found naturally in plan=
ts. The concentration of chitinase must be sufficiently high to repel insec=
ts. Testing has shown that the natural level of chitinase found in most pla=
nts is often not sufficient to repel insects. Worm castings with a level of=
 chitinase producing organsisms, chitin degraders, can also be used to cont=
rol fungus problems in the soil beneath plants. Worm castings are the feces=
 or excrement from the common red earthworm found in much of the world. The=
 genus of the red earthworm worm is eisenia foetida. Other genus of the ear=
thworm also provide worm castings suitable for this invention. Worm casting=
s are produced as a normal part of the worm life cycle when worms are fed a=
 diet of various forms of biodegradable materials such as compost, paper, f=
ood waste, and any other degradable organic material. Worm castings with a =
level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw can be used to increase t=
he level of chitinase to a repulsion level. Liquid worm castings with a lev=
el of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw can be used as a foliar spra=
y to administer a concentration of chitinase topically to the leaves and st=
ems of plants. Applying this liquid as a foliar spray also provides benefic=
ial competition for airborne or mechanically transferred fungus diseases. B=
eneficial competition means that one organism eats the other. The "benefici=
al comes" from the result. Liquid worm castings give a temporary repellency=
 effect that can be effective to keep the insects away until the level of n=
atural repellency is increased in the nectar of the plant. Liquid worm cast=
ings, with a level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw, provide a c=
ompetitive layer of organisms that will consume fungus diseases since the s=
tructural component of the fungus diseases are chitin. Worm castings with a=
 level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw can be added to soil to =
repel walking insects such as ants and including red fire ants. Worm castin=
gs with a level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw can also be add=
ed to the hydroponic feed liquid for plants to increase natural level of ch=
itinase production and possible other natural element to repel insects. The=
 addition of these worm castings to hydroponic feeds provides the beneficia=
l chitin degraders into the hydroponic liquid to beneficially compete with =
fungus diseases. An infestation of a soil fungus provides pathogenic soil m=
ix because the fungus will lock up nitrogen by consuming or eating it. Too =
much of the harmful fungus and the plant will starve. Beneficial competitio=
n comes when the disease or patogenic organisms is eaten by the good organi=
sms. In the case of nitrogen lockup, once the beneficial organisms eat the =
fungus the nitrogen is released. When the worm castings are made into a tea=
, it can be sprayed onto the leaves have coverage of 65% or more, then an a=
irborne fungus has no place to land and attach. And in the case of the chit=
in degraders in the worm castings, anyplace wherein this fungus spore lands=
, it will be eaten by the chitin degraders thus stoppiing all propagation o=
f the fungus disease.

  Mechanical transfer comes when an animal or insect is carrying the fungus=
 spores. If the insect lands on the plant foliage or the animal brushes aga=
inst the plant foliage (leaves), the fungus spore can be transferred to the=
 plant leaf surface. If the plant foliage has been sparyed with the worm ca=
stings tea, with the necessary level of chitin degraders, then the fungus i=
s eaten.

  Worm castings contain various organisms that produce enzymes known as var=
ious forms of chitinase to which insects have a strong aversion. Worm casti=
ngs are called by several other names: vermi-compost, vermi-castings, worm =
droppings, worm manure and others. All of these terms refer to the same mat=
erial.

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  FIG. 1 is a two-dimensional drawing of a tree, showing its underground ro=
ot structure.

  FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional drawing of a bush, showing its underground ro=
ot structure.

  FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of a worm bed.

  FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a worm bed with worm castings.

  FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of the worm castings at harvest time.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  FIG. 1 depicts a tree 10, having a leaf area 20 and a root structure 30. =
The outer limits of leaf area 20 describe drip line 40, which extends the p=
eriphery of tree 10. Extending inwardly from drip line 40 toward a point ov=
er the root structure for a distance a about the tree is the feeder root zo=
ne with worm castings 50 disposed above the feeder root zone. Referring now=
 to FIG. 2, bush 70 has a leaf area 80, a root structure 90, drip line 40, =
and feeder root zone comprising the area of the ground below the circumfere=
nce of leaf area 80 of diameter b. Research has discovered that one natural=
 insect repellant is any chitinase enzyme. These chitinase enzymes are prod=
uced by chitin degraders. The exact minimum level of chitinase for detectio=
n and aversion by an insect and for fungus control has not been definitivel=
y determined but has been estimated by researchers as about 1 million cfu/g=
dw.

  Hibiscus leaves that were covered in white fly cocoons were tested and fo=
und to have a level of chitinase producing chitin degraders at 300,000 CFU/=
gdw. The white fly infested hibiscus plants were treated with worm castings=
. Worm castings with a level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw we=
re applied in a 1/2 inch layer from the bases, or stems, to drip line 40 (F=
IG. 2). In about two months all white fly residue and cocoons were gone. Wh=
ite flies from neighboring plants, which had not been treated, would fly ar=
ound the treated leaves but not land on these leaves. Other plants, includi=
ng trees, have been tested to determine if the use of worm castings is effe=
ctive to repel spider mites, aphids, bark beetles, psylids, and other insec=
ts. Referring again to FIG. 1, worm castings 50 in the feeder zone of a pla=
nt or tree, effective repellency has been seen in such plants and tree agai=
nst various insects. Spider mites will leave a plant in about two weeks. Ap=
hids will leave in about six weeks. Bark beetles will leave trees after sev=
eral months. The time period for the insects to leave a plant appears depen=
dent on the size of the plant.

  Ants leave their nests within 24 hours and do not return for some period =
of time. The exact length of time for abandonment must be tested and will n=
o doubt be dependent on other environmental conditions. Ants will not cross=
 a layer of worm casting 50 for about two weeks, and then will gingerly beg=
in to cross. If the top layer of worm casting 50 is raked, then the ants wi=
ll again refuse to cross. Using worm castings in all soil areas around a ho=
me appeals to repel the ants for many months. The exact time will need to b=
e tested and will no doubt be dependent on other environmental conditions. =
The repellency effect for pest insects takes a period of time to begin, onc=
e the level of chitinase has been increased to repellency level, the insect=
s leave the plant.

  Fungus diseases are controlled by benficial competition using worm castin=
gs with a level of chitin degraders above 1 million cfu/gdw. This has been =
shown by field application testing and by independent lab testing where a w=
ide range of fungus diseases were tested "in-vitro" in the presence of the =
worm castings made into a liquid tea with a level of chitin degraders above=
 1 million cfu/gdw. All of the in vitro tests showed that the fungus diseas=
es were controlled or consumed by the organisms in the worm castings.

  The level of the chitinase producing organisms (chitin degraders) for eff=
ective repellency and fungus control is in the range of about 1 million CFU=
/gdw. Worm castings were tested to determine the level of the chitinase enz=
yme producing organisms (chitin degraders). Tests of worm castings show con=
centrations of chitinase producing organisms in the range of 54 million CFU=
/gdw. This concentration is over 50 times the estimated level required for =
repellency. The chitinase-producing organisms in the worm castings consiste=
d of five bacteria, four fungi, and five actinomycetes. The leaves from the=
 treated hibiscus were tested for chitinase four months after the initial a=
pplication of worm castings. This test revealed that the level of chitinase=
 producing organisms had increased to 670 million CFU/gdw. The chitinase pr=
oducing organisms found in the leaves were two bacteria that were not any o=
f the five found in the worm castings. This indicates that some trigger ele=
ment in the worm castings activates multiplication of the organisms that pr=
oduce the enzyme chitinase. The time period for effectiveness is at least s=
ix months. As above, the exact time period will need to be tested and will =
be dependent on other environmental conditions.

  The science of worm husbandry is well known. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 depict a wo=
rm bed through harvesting of the worm castings. Reference is made to FIG. 3=
 where worm bed 100 is disposed on the ground. Worm castings are produced b=
y feeding worms various forms of waste biomass. This provides the advantage=
 that worm castings do not require the consumption of valuable natural reso=
urces. The production instead consumes waste materials. Worm bed 100 compri=
ses a layer of biomass with earthworms disposed therewithin. FIG. 2 depicts=
 worm bed 100, with worm castings 110 disposed under worm bed 100. The eart=
hworms are fed approximately 4 inches of biomass per week, and after feedin=
g the worms move to the top of worm castings 110 to defecate, moving back i=
nto the biomass to continue feeding. When the depth of worm castings 110 gr=
ows to a depth of 3 feet (FIG. 4), worm bed 110 is removed, leaving the pro=
cessed worm castings 110 (FIG. 5).

  Worm castings can be supplied in the natural granular form, pelletized fo=
r time release, and liquefied into a worm castings tea. Liquid worm casting=
s are produced by soaking worm castings in water for at least 24 hours, lea=
ching the chitinase producing organisms from the castings, then removing th=
e liquid. Liquid worm castings are also produced naturally by the worms whi=
le feeding. The liquid can be collected from the bottom of the worm beds. L=
iquid worm castings are also referred to as: worm tea, worm castings tea, v=
ermi-tea, and other similar terms. Liquid worm castings are also produced i=
n an aerobic worm castings tea brewing process. Liquid worm castings have b=
een sprayed onto the leaves of plants infested by various insects. The evid=
ence indicates that this provides a temporary repellency for a variety of i=
nsects. This would be expected since the liquid worm castings has a level o=
f chitinase producing organisms similar to the level found in the granular =
form of worm castings. These same liquid worm castings have been sprayed on=
to plant foliage and have resulted in elimination of a wide range of fungus=
 diseases. When the worm castings are finely pelletized, they may be spread=
, or dusted, on the leaves of plants to affect the removal of fungus from t=
he leaves.

  While the present description contain many specificities, these should no=
t be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as =
an exemplification of some preferred embodiments thereof.

  * * * * *

  · .



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Received on Sat Nov 06 2004 - 18:18:24 EST

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