ENDOPHYTIC MICROBIAL SYMBIONTS IN PLANT PRENATAL CARE

• US 20150366217A1
• Filed: 02/05/2013
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Of Saskatchewan
• Original Assignee: University Of Saskatchewan
• Inventors: VUJANOVIC, Vladimir, GERMIDA, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,212,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 25/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application , e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
• 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: A01N 63/28 Streptomyces
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/30 Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/105 using fungi or plants
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 2101/00 In situ
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/145 Fungal isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/205 Bacterial isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/465 Streptomyces
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/645 Fungi ; Processes using fungi
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/80 Penicillium

Abstract

The present disclosure provides novel endophyte strains or cultures thereof that have a symbiotic relationship with plants. The present disclosure further provides methods of improving seed vitality, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, plant health and yield under both stressed and unstressed environmental conditions, comprising inoculating a seed with the novel endophyte strains and cultivating a plant therefrom.

Claims

1. An isolated endophyte of Streptomyces sp. strain or culture thereof which is deposited under IDAC 081111-06 or which comprises the 16S rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

6.

7. A composition comprising the isolated endophyte or culture of any one of claims 1-6 or a combination or mixture thereof and a carrier.

8. A seed comprising the endophyte or culture of any one of claims 1-6 or a combination or mixture thereof.

9. The seed of claim 8, wherein the seed is of a cereal, pulse, flax or canola plant.

10. A method of improving seed vitality, plant health and/or yield comprising inoculating a seed with the endophyte or culture of any one of claims 1-6 or a combination or mixture thereof or with the composition of claim 7;

and cultivating the seed into a first generation plant.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the isolated endophyte or culture thereof is Streptomyces sp. strain which is deposited under IDAC 081111-06 or which comprises the 16S rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

6.

12. The method of claim 11, for increasing seed germination, for decreasing time to reach the energy of germination, for reducing hydrothermal time required for germination, for increasing seed germination vigour, for increasing the fresh weight of seedlings, for enhancing Rhizobium nodulation traits and/or for increasing yield of seedlings.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, for reducing the effects of stress on the seed or cultivated plant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the stress is drought, heat and/or biotic stress.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the biotic stress is a Fusarium infection.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the isolated endophyte or culture thereof is Paraconyothirium sp. strain which is deposited as IDAC 081111-03 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

5.

17. The method of claim 16, for increasing seed germination, for decreasing time to reach the energy of germination, for reducing hydrothermal time required for germination, for increasing seed germination vigour, for increasing the fresh weight of seedlings and/or for increasing yield of seedlings.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, for reducing the effects of stress on the seed or cultivated plant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the stress is drought, heat and/or biotic stress.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the biotic stress is a Fusarium infection.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein the isolated endophyte or culture thereof is Pseudeurotium sp. which is deposited under IDAC 081111-02 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

4.

22. The method of claim 21, for decreasing time to reach energy of germination, for reducing hydrothermal time required for germination, for increasing seed germination vigour, and/or for increasing the fresh weight of seedlings.

23. The method of claim 21 or 22, for reducing the effects of stress on the seed or cultivated plant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the stress is drought and/or heat stress.

25. The method of claim 10, wherein the isolated endophyte or culture thereof is Penicillium sp. which is deposited under IDAC 081111-01 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

3.

26. The method of claim 25, for enhancing stratification, breaking dormancy and/or reducing the effects of stress by modulating gene expression of hormonal ent-kaurenoic (KAO), repression of shoot growth (RSG), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), 14-3-3 genes and nitric oxide (NO) molecules, and/or of stress resistance superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese SOD (MnSOD), proline (Pro) and MYB genes.

27. The method of claim 25 or 26, for increasing seed germination, for decreasing time to reach energy of germination, for reducing hydrothermal time required for germination, for increasing seed germination vigour, and/or for increasing yield of seedlings.

28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, for reducing the effects of stress on the seed or cultivated plant.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the stress is drought, heat and/or biotic stress.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the biotic stress is a Fusarium infection.

31. The method of claim 10, wherein the isolated endophyte or culture thereof is Cladosporium sp. which is deposited under IDAC 200312-06 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

1.

32. The method of claim 31, for decreasing time to reach energy of germination, for reducing hydrothermal time required for germination, for increasing seed germination vigour, and/or for increasing the fresh weight of seedlings.

33. The method of claim 31 or 32, for reducing the effects of stress on the seed or cultivated plant.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the stress is drought and/or heat.

35. The method of claim 10, wherein the isolated endophyte or culture thereof is Cladosporium sp. which is deposited under IDAC 200312-05 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

2.

36. The method of claim 35, for reducing the effects of stress on the seed or cultivated plant.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the stress is drought and/or heat stress.

38. The method of any one of claims 10 to 37, wherein the plant is a cereal, pulse, flax, or canola plant.

39. The method of any one of claims 10 to 38, wherein the seed is coated with the endophyte, cultured with the endophyte or planted near the endophyte.

40. The method of claim 39, where the seed planted near the endophyte is about 4 cm away from the endophyte.

41. A method of improving plant health and/or yield comprising treating a plant propagation material with the endophyte or culture of any one of claims 1-6 or a combination or mixture thereof or with the composition of claim 7;

and cultivating the plant propagation material into a first generation plant.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the plant propagation material is a seed, cutting or bulb.

43. The method of claim 41 or 42, for reducing the effects of stress.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the stress is heat, drought or biotic stress.

45. A method of improving plant health and/or yield comprising treating a plant with the endophyte or culture of any one of claims 1-6 or a combination or mixture thereof or with the composition of claim 7;

and allowing the plant to grow.

46. The method of claim 41 or 42, for reducing the effects of stress.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the stress is heat, drought or biotic stress.

48. The method of any one of claims 44 to 47, wherein treating the plant comprises foliar or soil application.

49. A method of phytoremediation or phytoreclamation of a contaminated site comprising treating plant propagation material or a plant with an endophyte or culture of any one of claims 1-6 or a combination or mixture thereof or with the composition of claim 7;

and cultivating the plant propagation material into a first generation plant or allowing the plant to grow;

thereby remediating or reclaiming the site.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the site is contaminated with an organic chemical, salts, or metals.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the organic chemical is hydrocarbons or petroleum.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the metal is lead or cadmium.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the metal is a radioisotope.

2. An isolated endophyte of Paraconyothirium sp. strain or culture thereof which is deposited as IDAC 081111-03 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

5.

3. An isolated endophyte of Pseudeurotium sp. or culture thereof which is deposited under IDAC 081111-02 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

4.

4. An isolated endophyte of Penicillium sp. or culture thereof which is deposited under IDAC 081111-01 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

3.

5. An isolated culture of Cladosporium sp. which is deposited under IDAC 200312-06 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

1.

6. An isolated endophyte of Cladosporium sp. or culture thereof which is deposited under IDAC 200312-05 or which comprises the ITS rDNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:

2.