SCREENING METHODS

• US 20140109249A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioConsortia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BioDiscovery New Zealand Limited (BioConsortia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Turner, Susan Jane, Wigley, Peter John
• Granted Patent: US 9,777,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/260
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 1/04 Processes of selection involving genotypic or phenotypic markers; Methods of using phenotypic markers for selection
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 17/00 Symbiotic or parasitic combinations including one or more new plants, e.g. mycorrhiza lichens A01H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 3/00 Processes for modifying phenotypes , e.g. symbiosis with bacteria A01H4/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, animals or substances produced by, or obtained from, microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi or animals, e.g. enzymes or fermentates containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00; unicellular algae A01N65/03
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1058 Directional evolution of libraries, e.g. evolution of libraries is achieved by mutagenesis and screening or selection of mixed population of organisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/689 for bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6895 for plants, fungi or algae

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the screening, identification and/or application of microorganisms of use in imparting beneficial properties to plants.

Claims

1. A method for the selection of one or more microorganisms capable of imparting one or more beneficial property to a plant, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) identifying one or more plant marker associated with one or more beneficial property;

b) subjecting one or more plant (including for example seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and/or propagules thereof) to a growth medium in the presence of a first set of one or more microorganisms;

c) selecting one or more plant following step b) on the basis that the one or more plant marker is present;

d) acquiring a second set of one or more microorganisms associated with said one or more plant selected in step c);

e) repeating steps a) to d) and/or steps b) to d) one or more times, wherein the second set of one or more microorganisms acquired in step d) is used as the first set of microorganisms in step b) of any successive repeat.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more selective pressure is applied in step b).

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the growth medium is selective for a specific marker of interest.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more plant may be selected on the basis of the presence of one or more marker in combination with one or more other selection criterion.

7. A method for the production of a composition to support plant growth, quality and/or health, or a composition to suppress or inhibit the growth, quality and/or health of a plant the method comprising the steps of a method according to claim 1 and the additional step of combining the one or more microorganisms selected by the method with one or more additional ingredients.

8. A method for the selection of a composition which is capable of imparting one or more beneficial property to a plant, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) culturing one or more microorganism selected by a method of claim 1 in one or more media to provide one or more culture;

b) separating the one or more microorganism from the one or more media in the one or more culture after a period of time to provide one or more composition substantially free of microorganisms;

c) subjecting one or more plant (including for example seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and/or propagules thereof) to the one or more composition of step b);

d) selecting one or more composition from step c) if it is observed to impart one or more beneficial property to the one or more plants.

9. A method for the selection of a composition which is capable of imparting one or more beneficial property to a plant, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) culturing one or more microorganisms selected by a method of claim 1 in one or more media to provide one or more culture;

b) inactivating the one or more culture of step a) to provide one or more composition containing one or more inactivated microorganisms;

c) subjecting one or more plant (including for example seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and/or propagules thereof) to the one or more composition of step b);

d) selecting one or more composition from step c) if it is observed to impart one or more beneficial property to the one or more plants.

10. A method for the selection of one or more microorganisms which are capable of producing a composition which is capable of imparting one or more beneficial property to a plant, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) culturing one or more microorganism selected by a method of claim 1 in one or more media to provide one or more culture;

b) separating the one or more microorganism from the one or more media in the one or more culture from step a) after a period of time to provide one or more composition substantially free of microorganisms;

c) subjecting one or more plant (including for example seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and/or propagules thereof) to the one or more composition from step b);

d) selecting the one or more microorganisms associated with one or more composition observed to impart one or more beneficial property to the one or more plants.

11. A method for the selection of one or more microorganisms which are capable of producing a composition which is capable of imparting one or more beneficial property to a plant, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) culturing one or more microorganisms selected by a method of claim 1 in one or more media to provide one or more culture;

b) inactivating the one or more culture of step a) to provide one or more composition containing one or more inactivated microorganisms;

c) subjecting one or more plant (including for example seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and/or propagules thereof) to the one or more composition of step b);

d) selecting the one or more microorganisms associated with one or more composition observed to impart one or more beneficial property to the one or more plants.

12. A method for assisting in the improvement of one or more plants, comprising arranging for the evaluation of said plant(s) in the presence of one or more microorganisms and/or compositions, wherein the method comprises at least the steps of a method of claim 1.

13. A system for implementing the method as claimed in claim 7.

14. One or more microorganism acquired, selected or isolated by a method according to claim 1.

15. A composition comprising one or more microorganism according to claim 14.

16. A composition made by a method of claim 7.

17. The use of one or more microorganism as claimed in claim 14 for imparting one or more beneficial property to one or more plant.

18. The use of a method according to claim 1 in a plant breeding programme.

19. A plant breeding programme comprising conducting a method of claim 1.

20. A method for identifying one or more plant marker that is associated with one or more beneficial trait the method comprising at least the step of conducting a method claim 1 and identifying the one or more plant marker.

21. A method for identifying one or more microorganism marker that is associated with one or more beneficial plant trait the method comprising at least the step of conducting a method of claim 1 and identifying the one or more microorganism marker.

22. A method for identifying a combination of one or more plant marker and one or more microorganism marker comprising at least the step of conducting a method of claim 1 and identifying the combination of one or more plant marker and one or more microorganism marker.

23. The use of a microorganism selected by a method of claim 10.

3. A method for the selection of one or more microorganisms capable of imparting one or more beneficial property to a plant, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) subjecting one or more plant (including for example seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and/or propagules thereof) to a growth medium in the presence of a first set of one or more microorganisms;

b) selecting one or more plant following step a);

c) acquiring a second set of one or more microorganisms associated with said one or more plant selected in step b);

d) repeating steps a) to c) one or more times, wherein the second set of one or more microorganisms acquired in step c) is used as the first set of microorganisms in step a) of any successive repeat;

wherein the method also comprises the step of identifying one or more plant marker and/or one or more microorganism marker associated with the beneficial property after step b) and/or after step c).

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein one or more selective pressure is applied in step a).