ENDOPHYTE COMPOSITIONS AND THE METHODS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PLANT TRAITS

• US 20180249716A1
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indigo Ag, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Indigo Ag, Inc.
• Inventors: Riley, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 10,645,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/06 Coating or dressing seed
• 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 63/30 Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/145 Fungal isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 Bacteria; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/205 Bacterial isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8261 with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/689 for bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6895 for plants, fungi or algae
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/01 Bacteria or Actinomycetales ; using bacteria or Actinomycetales
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/645 Fungi ; Processes using fungi
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/66 Aspergillus

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and materials for modulating the characteristics of a plant, said plant having been heterologously disposed to an endophyte or a plurality of endophytes, or derived from a plant reproductive element heterologously disposed to an endophyte or a plurality of endophytes.

Claims

1. A method of improving a trait of agronomic importance in a soybean plant, comprising heterologously disposing an endophyte to a soybean plant element in an amount effective to increase a trait of agronomic importance selected from the group consisting of root length and root area in the plant derived from the treated plant element relative to a plant derived from a reference plant element, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Periconia and comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

32 and 33.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the soybean plant element is a seed.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the soybean seed is modified.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the endophyte is heterologously disposed to the soybean plant element in a formulation further comprising one or more of the following:

a stabilizer, a preservative, a carrier, a surfactant, a fungicide, a nematicide, a bactericide, an insecticide, or herbicide, or any combination thereof.

129. The method of claim 1, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Periconia as deposited under NRRL Culture Deposit No. 67466.

130. The method of claim 1, wherein the endophyte is a modified endophyte of the genus Periconia derived from the endophyte as deposited under NRRL Culture Deposit No. 67466.

2-25. -25. (canceled)

29-36. -36. (canceled)

37. An agrochemically active microbial formulation, comprising at least one oil, surfactant, polymer, and a microbial active ingredient, wherein the microbial active ingredient is an endophyte of the genus Periconia and comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

32 and 33.

48. The formulation of claim 37, wherein the oil is rapeseed or NEEM.

50. The formulation of claim 37, wherein the oil comprises herbicidal or insecticidal properties.

51. The formulation of claim 37, wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic detergent.

54. The formulation of claim 37, wherein the microbial active ingredient comprises one or more of the following:

a spore suspension, spray dried spores, whole cell broth, or any combination thereof.

57. The formulation of claim 37 that further comprises one or more of the following:

a fungicide, a nematicide, a bactericide, an insecticide, a herbicide, a stabilizer, a preservative, a carrier, an anticomplex agent, or any combination thereof.

59. The formulation of claim 37, wherein the endophyte is shelf-stable.

131. The agrochemically active microbial formulation of claim 37, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Periconia as deposited under NRRL Culture Deposit No. 67466.

132. The agrochemically active microbial formulation of claim 37, wherein the endophyte is a modified endophyte of the genus Periconia derived from the endophyte as deposited under NRRL Culture Deposit No. 67466.

38-47. -47. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

60-67. -67. (canceled)

68. A synthetic composition comprising a plant element and a heterologously disposed endophyte, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Periconia and comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

32 and 33, wherein said synthetic composition is capable of providing an improved trait of agronomic importance as compared to reference plant element not further comprising the endophyte.

73. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the plant element is of the genus Triticum and the improve trait of agronomic importance is selected from the group consisting of germination rate, dry shoot biomass, and yield.

74. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the plant element is of the genus Glycine and the improve trait of agronomic importance is selected from the group consisting of root length and root area.

75. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the plant element is of the genus Zea and the improve trait of agronomic importance is yield.

112. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the plant element is a seed.

113. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the seed is modified.

117. The synthetic composition of claim 68, further comprising a formulation that comprises one or more of the following:

a stabilizer, a preservative, a carrier, a surfactant, an anticomplex agent, a fungicide, a nematicide, a bactericide, an insecticide, a herbicide, or any combination thereof.

120. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the synthetic composition is shelf-stable.

133. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Periconia as deposited under NRRL Culture Deposit No. 67466.

134. The synthetic composition of claim 68, wherein the endophyte is a modified endophyte of the genus Periconia derived from the endophyte as deposited under

69-72. -72. (canceled)

76-111. -111. (canceled)

114-116. -116. (canceled)

118. (canceled)

119. (canceled)

121-128. -128. (canceled)