Endophytic Microbial Symbionts in Plant Prenatal Care

• US 20160174570A1
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Published: 06/23/2016
• 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 9,687,001 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 compositions comprising novel endophytes capable of promoting germination endophytes 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of increasing resistance to nitrogen stress in at least one agricultural crop, said method comprising inoculating the seed of the agricultural crop with a composition comprising fungal endophytes capable of causing populations of seeds from at least two different crops to have increased yield under nitrogen stress conditions compared to control seeds.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the fungal endophytes are of an order chosen from one of the following:

Helotiales, Capnodides, Pleosporales, Hypocreales, and Eurotiales.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the fungal endophytes are of a genus chosen from one of the following:

Paraconyothirium, Pseudeurotium, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Sarocladium.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the fungal endophyte of genus Paraconyothirium is deposited as IDAC 081111-03 or has an ITS rDNA sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

5.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the fungal endophyte of genus Pseudeurotium is deposited under IDAC 081111-02 or has an ITS rDNA sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

4

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the fungal endophyte of genus Penicillium is deposited under IDAC 081111-01 or has an ITS rDNA sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

3.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the fungal endophyte of genus Cladosporium is deposited under IDAC 200312-06 or has an ITS rDNA sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

1.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the fungal endophyte of genus Sarocladium is deposited under IDAC 200312-05 or has an LSU rRNA sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

2.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the agricultural crop is selected from the group consisting of cereal, pulse, and canola.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the crop is a cereal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the crop is wheat.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the nitrogen stress conditions result from lack of application of nitrogen to the field.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the bacterial endophyte of genus Streptomyces is deposited under IDAC 081111-06.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the nitrogen stress conditions result from lack of application of nitrogen to the field.

33. A method of increasing resistance to nitrogen stress in at least one agricultural crop, said method comprising inoculating the seed of the agricultural crop with a composition comprising bacterial endophytes of genus Streptomyces capable of causing populations of seeds to have increased yield under nitrogen stress conditions compared to control seeds.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the bacterial endophyte of genus Streptomyces has a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

6.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the method increases resistance to nitrogen stress in at least two agricultural crops.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the agricultural crop is selected from the group consisting of cereal, pulse, and canola.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the crop is a cereal.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the crop is wheat.