ENDOPHYTE COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PLANT TRAITS

• US 20180251776A1
• 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 10,640,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: A01N 63/30 Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/08 Organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8202 by biological means, e.g. cell mediated or natural vector
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8262 involving plant development
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

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

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. 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 improve a trait of agronomic importance selected from the group consisting of dry shoot biomass, root area, root length, and yield 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 Acremonium and comprises a polynucleotide sequence 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:

46.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the trait of agronomic importance is yield, and the soybean plant is variety Pfister 38R25 or a closely related variety thereof.

49. The method of claim 30, wherein the plant element is a seed.

51. The method of claim 30, wherein the endophyte is heterologously disposed to the plant element in a formulation, said 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, an herbicide, or any combination thereof.

161. The method of claim 30, wherein the endophyte further comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:

47, 48, 49, 50, and 51.

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. A method of improving a trait of agronomic importance in a peanut plant, comprising heterologously disposing an endophyte to a peanut plant element in an amount effective to increase yield 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 Acremonium and comprises a polynucleotide sequence at least 100% identical to SEQ ID NOR;

46, and the peanut plant is a variety Georgia-06G or a closely related variety.

159. The method of claim 34, wherein the plant element is a seed.

160. The method of claim 159, wherein the seed is modified.

162. The method of claim 34, wherein the endophyte is heterologously disposed to the plant element in a formulation, said 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.

35-48. -48. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

52-126. -126. (canceled)

127. A synthetic composition comprising a soybean plant element and a heterologously disposed endophyte, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Acremonium and comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:

46, and wherein the synthetic composition is capable of providing an improved trait of agronomic importance selected from the group consisting of dry shoot biomass, root area, root length, and yield as compared to a reference plant element not further comprising the endophyte.

142. The synthetic composition of claim 127, wherein the plant element is a seed.

147. The synthetic composition of claim 127, 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.

150. The synthetic composition of claim 127, wherein the synthetic composition is shelf-stable.

163. The synthetic composition of claim 127, wherein the endophyte further comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:

47, 48, 49, 50, and 51.

128-141. -141. (canceled)

143-146. -146. (canceled)

148. (canceled)

149. (canceled)

151-158. -158. (canceled)

164. A synthetic composition comprising a peanut variety Georgia-06G plant element and a heterologously disposed endophyte, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus Acremonium and comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:

46, and wherein the synthetic composition is capable of providing improved yield.

165. The synthetic composition of claim 164, wherein the endophyte further comprises at least one polynucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:

47, 48, 49, 50, and 51.

166. The method of claim 164, wherein the plant element is a seed.

167. The method of claim 166, wherein the seed is modified.

168. The method of claim 164, wherein the endophyte is heterologously disposed to the plant element in a formulation, said 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.

169. The synthetic composition of claim of 164, wherein the synthetic composition is shelf-stable.