Novel endophytic fungi and methods of use

• US 20030186425A1
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary A. Strobel
• Original Assignee: AgraQuest, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Manker, Denise C., Mercier, Julien, Strobel, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 6,911,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/254.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/30 Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

This invention provides a novel endophytic fungus, Muscodor, that produces a mixture of volatile antibiotics with activity on specific plant pathogens, bacteria, nematodes and insects. Also provided is a method for treating or protecting plants, soil and seeds from microbial infections comprising applying an effective amount of a volatile antibiotic producing Muscodor sp. The invention also relates to fungicidal, bactericidal, insecticidal and nematicidal compositions comprising this novel Muscodor strain and the antibiotics and metabolites produced by this strain either alone, or in combination with other chemical and biological pesticides. Also provided is a method for identifying and isolating related gas producing fungi.

Claims

1. An isolated culture of Muscodor albus, and mutants thereof.

3. A volatile composition produced by the isolated culture of any one of claims 1 or 2.

4. A composition comprising the isolated culture of claims 1 or 2 and a carrier.

5. The composition of claim 3, wherein the carrier is an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

6. The composition of claim 3, further comprising an agriculturally effective amount of an agricultural composition selected from the group consisting of a fungicide, an insecticide, an antimicrobial, a bactericide, a nematicide and a food preservative.

7. The volatile composition of claim 3, further comprising an agriculturally effective amount of an agricultural volatile compound selected from the group consisting of a fungicide, an insecticide, an antimicrobial, a bactericide, a nematicide and a food preservative.

8. A method of inhibiting the growth of an organism selected from the group consisting of a fungus, a bacteria, a microorganism, a nematode and an insect, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the culture of claims 1 or 2.

9. A method of inhibiting the growth of an organism selected from the group consisting of a fungus, a bacteria, a microorganism, a nematode and an insect, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the volatile composition of claim 3.

10. A method for treating or protecting fruit, plants, seeds, grain or the soil surrounding the plants from an infestation by an organism selected from the group consisting of a fungus, a bacteria, a microorganism, a nematode and an insect, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the culture of claims 1 or 2.

11. A method for treating or protecting fruit, plants, seeds, grain or the soil surrounding the plants from an infestation by an organism selected from the group consisting of a fungus, a bacteria, a microorganism, a nematode and an insect, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the volatile composition of claim 3.

12. A method for treating human or animal waste products comprising contacting the products with an effective amount of the culture of claims 1 or 2.

13. A method for treating human or animal waste products comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the volatile composition of claim 3.

14. A method for treating or protecting building material from toxic mold infestations comprising contacting the material with an effective amount of the culture of claims 1 or 2.

15. A method for treating or protecting building material from toxic mold infestations, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the volatile composition of claim 3.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising contacting the fruit, plants, seeds, grain or soil surrounding the plants with an effective amount of an agricultural composition selected from the group consisting of a fungicide, an insecticide, an antimicrobial, a bactericide, a nematicide and a food preservative.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising contacting the fruit, plants, seeds, grain or soil surrounding the plants with an effective amount of an agricultural composition selected from the group consisting of a fungicide, an insecticide, an antimicrobial, a bactericide, a nematicide and a food preservative.

19. A method of inhibiting the growth of an organism selected from the group consisting of a fungus, a bacteria, a microorganism, a nematode and an insect, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the composition of any one of claims 12 to 15.

20. A method for treating or protecting fruit, plants, grain, seeds or the soil surrounding the plants from an infestation by an organism selected from the group consisting of a fungus, a bacteria, a microorganism, a nematode and an insect, comprising contacting the organism with an effective amount of the composition of any one of claims 17 to 19.

23. A method for obtaining a volatile composition comprising culturing the isolated Muscodor of claims 1 or 2 and collecting the volatile composition produced by the growing Muscodor.

2. An isolated culture of Muscodor roseus, and mutants thereof.

16. A composition comprising the components recited in Table 4.

21. A method for identifying novel Muscodor fungi, comprising contacting an effective amount of the fungi to be screened with the volatiles of Muscodor albus or Mucodor roseus under culturing conditions and selecting the fungi which is resistant to the volatiles of the Muscodor albus or Muscodor roseus thereby identifying novel Muscodor fungi.

22. An isolated Muscodor fungus selected by the method of claim 21.

24. An isolated Muscodor fungus.