Grass Endophyte Enhanced Attributes

• US 20100278780A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grasslanz Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Grasslanz Technology Limited
• Inventors: Simpson, Wayne Roydon, Rolston, Maurice Philip
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/93.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 15/00 Fungi; Lichens fungal microorganisms C12N1/14
• 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 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/54 1,3-Diazines; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazines
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/653 1,2,4-Triazoles; Hydrogenated 1,2,4-triazoles
• 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: C12R 2001/645 Fungi ; Processes using fungi

Abstract

Described is the method and use of AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, to produce a grass cultivar and AR584 combination wherein the plant or a part thereof produced by the combination retains viable AR584 endophyte after treatment with fungicide and/or after being subjected to elevated temperature or humidity.

Claims

1. Use of AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, to produce a grass cultivar and AR584 combination wherein the plant or a part thereof produced by the combination retains viable AR584 endophyte therein after treatment with fungicide.

2. The use as claimed in claim 1 wherein the AR584 endophyte in the combination retains at least a 50% or greater endophyte viability after treatment with fungicide.

3. The use as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fungicide used in treatment has systemic characteristics.

4. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fungicide used in treatment has foliar disease control characteristics.

5. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fungicide used in treatment has activity against soil borne fungicidal pathogens.

6. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fungicide used in treatment is selected from:

the triazole group, the strobilurin group, and combinations of these two fungicide groups.

7. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least 65% or greater endophyte viability is retained when the combination is treated with 50:

50 wt/wt composition of triazole based fungicide and strobilurin based fungicide.

8. The use as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is triazole based and applied to the combination as a spray at a rate of 1000 ml/ha.

9. The use as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is strobilurin based and applied to the combination as a spray at a rate of 1000 ml/ha.

10. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fungicide used in treatment is applied to the combination at early flowering of the combination.

11. The use as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is applied to the combination at early flowering and re-applied again at late flowering of the combination.

12. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fungicide is applied to the combination in a form selected from:

a spray, an immersion, a powder, a gel, and combinations thereof.

20. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the plant or part thereof is selected from:

seed(s), shoot(s), leaves, stem(s), flower(s) or root(s) and combinations thereof.

21. The use as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the grass cultivar is a tall fescue variety.

22. The use as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the grass cultivar is a synthetic grass cultivar.

13. Use of AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, to produce a grass cultivar and AR584 combination wherein the plant or a part thereof produced by the combination retains viable AR584 endophyte therein after the combination is subjected to temperatures of between 15°

C. and 55°

C. for a time period of at least 3 days.

14. The use as claimed in claim 13 wherein the AR584 endophyte in the combination retains at least a 50% or greater endophyte viability.

15. The use as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the endophyte viability is retained when the endophyte and plant or part thereof combination is subjected to temperatures of 35°

C. to 45°

C.

16. The use as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the endophyte viability is retained when the combination is subjected to a relative humidity of 70% or greater for at least 3 days.

17. Use of AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, to produce a grass cultivar and AR584 combination wherein the plant or a part thereof produced by the combination retains at least 60% or greater endophyte viability when the combination is subjected to a temperature of up to 40°

C. and a relative humidity of up to 100% for at least a time period of 3 days.

18. The use as claimed in claim 17 wherein at least 75% or greater endophyte viability is retained.

19. Use of AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, to produce a grass cultivar and AR584 combination characterised in that the plant or a part thereof produced by the combination:

(a) retains at least 60% or greater endophyte viability when the combination is subjected to a temperature of up to 40°

C. and a relative humidity of up to 100% for at least a time period of 3 days; and

,

(b) retains at least a 50% or greater endophyte viability after treatment with fungicide.

23. A method of retaining endophyte viability in a plant or a part thereof after treatment with fungicide produced by a combination a grass cultivar and endophyte combination, wherein the endophyte is AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the AR584 endophyte in the combination retains at least a 50% or greater endophyte viability after treatment with fungicide.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24 wherein the fungicide used in treatment has systemic characteristics.

26. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25 wherein the fungicide used in treatment has foliar disease control characteristics.

27. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 26 wherein the fungicide used in treatment has activity against soil borne fungicidal pathogens.

28. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 27 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is selected from:

the triazole group, strobilurin group or combinations of these two fungicide groups.

29. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 28 wherein at least 65% or greater endophyte viability is retained when the combination is treated with 50:

50 wt/wt combination of triazole based fungicide and strobilurin based fungicide.

30. The method as claimed in claims 23 to 28 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is triazole based and applied to the combination as a spray at a rate of 1000 ml/ha.

31. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 28 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is strobilurin based and applied as a spray at a rate of 1000 ml/ha.

32. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 31 wherein the fungicide used in treatment is applied to the combination at early flowering of the combination.

33. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 31 wherein the fungicide treatment is applied at early flowering and re-applied again at late flowering to the combination.

34. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 33 wherein the fungicide is applied to the combination in the form selected from:

a spray, an immersion, a powder, a gel, and combinations thereof.

42. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 41 wherein the plant or part thereof is selected from:

seed(s), shoot(s), stem(s), flower(s) or root(s) and combinations thereof.

43. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 42 wherein the grass cultivar is a tall fescue plant variety.

44. The method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 43 wherein the grass cultivar is a synthetic grass cultivar.

35. A method of retaining endophyte viability in a plant or a part thereof after treatment with fungicide, produced by a combination of a grass cultivar and endophyte combination, wherein the endophyte is AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, wherein the combination retains viable AR584 endophyte therein after the combination is subjected to temperatures of between 15°

C. and 55°

C. for a time period of at least 3 days.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the AR584 endophyte in the combination retains at least a 50% or greater endophyte viability.

37. The method as claimed in claim 35 or claim 36 wherein the endophyte viability is retained when the endophyte and plant or part thereof combination is subjected to temperatures of 35°

C. to 45°

C.

38. The method as claimed in any one of claims 35 to 37 wherein endophyte viability is retained when the combination is subjected to a relative humidity of 70% or greater for least 3 days.

39. A method of retaining endophyte viability in a plant or a part thereof after treatment with fungicide, produced by a combination of a grass cultivar and endophyte combination, wherein the endophyte is AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, wherein the combination retains at least 60% or greater endophyte viability when the combination is subjected to a temperature of up to 40°

C. and a relative humidity of up to 100% for at least a time period of 3 days.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein at least 75% or greater endophyte viability is retained.

41. A method of retaining endophyte viability in a plant or a part thereof after treatment with fungicide, produced by a combination of a grass cultivar and endophyte combination, wherein the endophyte is AR584 endophyte (AGAL deposit no. NM98/04676 dated 12 May 1998) or variations in endophyte as exemplified by AR584, wherein the combination:

(a) retains at least 60% or greater endophyte viability when the combination is subjected to a temperature of up to 40°

C. and a relative humidity of up to 100% for at least a time period of 3 days; and

,

(b) retains at least a 50% or greater endophyte viability after treatment with fungicide.