Methods and compositions relating to insect repellents from a novel endophytic fungus

• US 7,267,975 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Montana State University
• Original Assignee: Montana State University
• Inventors: Strobel, Gary, Daisy, Bryn
• Primary Examiner(s): Marx; Irene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ware; Deborah K.
• Application Number:
  US10/687,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/254.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/30 Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/145 Fungal isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/005 aromatic naphthacene C12P29/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/645 Fungi ; Processes using fungi
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/911 using fungi

Abstract

The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel endophytic fungus, Muscodor vitigenus, from the liana, Paullinia paullinioides. This fungus produces naphthalene under certain cultural conditions that has chromatographic and mass spectral properties that are identical to authentic naphthalene. In a preferred embodiment, the naphthalene in the gas phase of M. vitigenus is useful in the repellency of unwanted insect pests. The unique biological activity of the novel endophyte suggests a wide range of potential practical applications, particularly in the area of insect repellents, insecticides, antimicrobials, anthelmintics and vermicides.

Claims

1. An isolated culture of Muscodor vitigenus , wherein the culture is Muscodor vitigenus 2116 (Accession No. CBS 120164) and is capable of producing a product comprising naphthalene.

2. A composition comprising the isolated culture of claim 1 and at least one carrier.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the carrier is an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said carrier is soil.

5. The culture of claim 1, wherein the product further comprises 2-methyl naphthalene, 1 -methoxy naphthalene or a combination thereof.

6. A method of repelling an insect from a first composition comprising contacting said first composition with a second composition comprising an isolated culture of M. vitigenus 2116 (Accession No. CBS 120164).

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said first composition is a plant or a plant part.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said plant part is selected from the group consisting of seeds, fruits, stems, leaves and roots.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8 wherein said second composition is soil inoculated with the isolated culture of M. vitigenus 2116 (Accession No. CBS 120164).

10. An isolated culture of Muscodor vitigenus, wherein the culture is Muscodor vitigenus 2116 (Accession No. CBS 120164) and is capable of producing naphthalene at a rate of about 5 ng hr⁻

1 to about 150 ng hr<sup>−

1</sup>.

11. The culture of claim 10, wherein the rate is about 5 ng hr⁻

1 to about 12 ng hr<sup>−

1</sup>.