SCREENING METHODS

• US 20140115731A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• 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 9,732,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/260
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for the screening, identification and/or application of microorganisms of use in imparting beneficial properties to plants. In one embodiment, the method involves subjecting one or more plants to a growth medium in the presence of a set of microorganisms, selecting one or more plant, acquiring one or more microorganisms associated with the selected plant(s) and repeating the process one or more times. The method further involves the step of subjecting the one or more microorganisms to a conditioning and/or directed evolution process.

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) 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 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) are used in step a) of any successive repeat; and

,

wherein the first set of one or more microorganisms has been subjected to one or more of a conditioning and a directed evolution process prior to step a) and/or the second set of one or more microorganisms acquired in step c) are subjected to one or more of a conditioning and a directed evolution process prior to being used in step a) of any successive repeat.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein two or more of the methods are performed separately and the one or more microorganisms acquired in each separate method are combined.

5. 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 as claimed in claim 1 and the additional step of combining the one or more microorganisms selected by the method with one or more additional ingredients.

6. 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 microorganism;

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.

7. 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.

8. 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 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.

9. 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) 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 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.

10. 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, the method comprising at least the steps of a method of claim 1.

11. A system for implementing the method as claimed in claim 10.

12. One or more microorganism acquired, selected or isolated by a method as claimed in claim 1.

13. A composition comprising a microorganism of claim 12.

14. A composition made by a method of claim 5.

15. The use of one or more microorganism as claimed in claim 12.

16. The use of a method of claim 1 in a plant breeding programme.

17. A plant breeding programme comprising a method of claim 1.

18. The use of a microorganism selected by a method of claim 8.

2. 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) applying one or more selective pressure during step a);

c) selecting one or more plant following step b); and

,

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

,

wherein the first set of one or more microorganisms has been subjected to one or more of a conditioning and a directed evolution process prior to step a) and/or the second set of one or more microorganisms acquired in step d) are subjected to one or more of a conditioning and a directed evolution process.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of:

e) repeating steps a) to d) one or more times, wherein the second set of one or more microorganisms in step d) is used as the first set of one or more microorganisms in step a).