strains that induce resistance to plant diseases and/or increase plant growth

• US 8,877,481 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cornell University
• Original Assignee: Cornell University
• Inventors: Harman, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson, Karen Cochrane
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSS, NATALIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/218,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 435/252, 435/254.1, 435/254.6
• US Class Current: 435/252
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/38 Trichoderma
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/145 Fungal isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/885 Trichoderma

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for enhancing growth of plants which comprises contacting a Trichoderma strain with the plant or a plant seed under conditions effective for the Trichoderma strain to colonize the roots of the plant or a plant grown from the plant seed, thereby creating a plant-Trichoderma system. The plant or plant seed is grown under conditions effective to sustain the plant-Trichoderma system in a planting medium and to enhance plant growth, where the Trichoderma strain is selected from the group consisting of Trichoderma atroviride strain WW10TC4 (ATCC accession number PTA 9707), Trichoderma harzianum strain RR17Bc (ATCC accession number PTA 9708), Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA 9709), and combinations thereof. Also, disclosed are methods of enhancing resistance of plants to abiotic stress, increasing nitrogen use efficacy in plants, reducing nitrous oxide emissions in air, reducing leaching of nitrates into soil and water, and enhancing sequestration of carbon from air.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing growth of plants comprising:

contacting a Trichoderma strain with a plant or a plant seed under conditions effective for the Trichoderma strain to colonize the roots of the plant or a plant grown from the plant seed, thereby creating a plant-Trichoderma system and

growing the plant or plant seed under conditions effective to sustain the plant-Trichoderma system in a planting medium and to enhance plant growth, wherein the Trichoderma strain is Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA

     9709).

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

adding a supplemental source of nutrients to the plant-Trichoderma system.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the nutrients are selected from the group consisting of soil, water, urea, ammonium nitrate, and sources providing nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and/or other micronutrients.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Trichoderma strain is provided as a granule, dust, powder, slurry, film, liquid suspension, or combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out by broadcast application, liquid or dry in-furrow application, spray application, irrigation, injection, dusting, pelleting, or coating of the plant or the plant seed or the planting medium with Trichoderma strain.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out before the plant or the plant seed is introduced to the planting medium.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out after the plant or the plant seed is introduced to the planting medium.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plant or plant seed is a crop plant selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, rice, wheat, barley, oats, rye, cotton, sorghum, sunflower, peanut, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, soybean, tobacco, tomato, maize, clover, and sugarcane.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plant or plant seed is an ornamental plant selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis thaliana, Saintpaulia, petunia, pelargonium, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, carnation, zinnia, roses, snapdragon, geranium, zinnia, lily, daylily, Echinacea, dahlia, hosta, tulip, daffodil, peony, phlox, herbs, ornamental shrubs, ornamental grasses, switchgrass, and turfgrass.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plant growth enhancement is in the form of greater root mass, greater depth of rooting, greater shoot mass, greater length of shoots, increased leaf greenness, increased yields, and improved stand and vigor.

11. A method for enhancing resistance of plants to abiotic stresses comprising:

contacting a Trichoderma strain with the plant or a plant seed under conditions effective for the Trichoderma strain to colonize the roots of the plant or a plant grown from the plant seed, thereby creating a plant-Trichoderma system and

growing the plant or plant seed under conditions effective to sustain the plant-Trichoderma system in a planting medium and to enhance resistance of plants to abiotic stresses, wherein the Trichoderma strain is Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA

     9709).

12. A method for increasing nitrogen use efficacy in plants comprising:

contacting a Trichoderma strain with the plant or a plant seed under conditions effective for the Trichoderma strain to colonize the roots of the plant or a plant grown from the plant seed, thereby creating a plant-Trichoderma system and

growing the plant or plant seed under conditions effective to sustain the plant-Trichoderma system in a planting medium and to increase nitrogen use efficacy in plants, wherein the Trichoderma strain is Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA

     9709).

13. A method for reducing nitrous oxide emissions in air and leaching of nitrates into soil and water, said method comprising:

contacting a Trichoderma strain with the plant or a plant seed under conditions effective for the Trichoderma strain to colonize the roots of the plant or a plant grown from the plant seed, thereby creating a plant-Trichoderma system and

growing the plant or plant seed under conditions effective to sustain the plant-Trichoderma system in a planting medium and to reduce nitrous oxide emissions in air and leaching of nitrates into soil and water, wherein the Trichoderma strain is Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA

     9709).

14. A method for enhancing sequestration of carbon from air comprising:

contacting a Trichoderma strain with the plant or a plant seed under conditions effective for the Trichoderma strain to colonize the roots of the plant or a plant grown from the plant seed, thereby creating a plant-Trichoderma system and

growing the plant or plant seed under conditions effective to sustain the plant-Trichoderma system in a planting medium and to enhance sequestration of carbon from air, wherein the Trichoderma strain is Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA

     9709).

15. An isolated Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab deposited with ATCC under accession number PTA 9709.

16. The isolated Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab according to claim 15 which is biologically pure.

17. A plant-Trichoderma system comprising:

a plant or a plant seed and

a Trichoderma strain which is Trichoderma harzianum strain F11Bab (ATCC accession number PTA

     9709).