Species of fungi and their use in pest and disease control

Abstract

The present invention describes substantially pure cultures of three new species of fungi, Meira geulakonigae (CBS 110052), Meira argovae (CBS 110053) and Acaromyces ingoldii (CBS 110050) (all nom. prow.), wherein said cultures are biologically pure. The conditioned medium for all three new fungi species is also described, as well as their biologically active products. The biological product of the three new fungi species and their conditioned medium has miticidal and fungicidal activities. Thus, a composition for the control of mites and/or phytopathogenic fungi comprising a biocontrol agent derived from any one of the three new fungi species is also described, optionally comprising an agriculturally compatible carrier. Finally, the present invention describes a method for producing a fungicide and/or a miticide, wherein the active ingredient of said fungicide/miticide is any one of M. geulakonigae, M. argovae , or A. ingoldii , or any combination thereof, and/or a culture thereof, and/or any product or derivative thereof, comprising culturing said fungus and optionally isolating said active ingredient from the culture.

1 . A substantially pure culture of the fungus  Meira geulakonigae  nom. prov. ( M. geulakonigae ). 
     
     
         2 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein said culture is biologically pure. 
     
     
         3 . The culture of  claim 1 , wherein said fungus is the fungus designated CBS Accession No. 110052. 
     
     
         4 . A conditioned medium of the fungus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A substantially pure culture of the fungus  Meira argovae  nom. prov. ( M. argovae ). 
     
     
         6 . The culture of  claim 5 , wherein said culture is biologically pure. 
     
     
         7 . The fungus of  claim 5 , designated CBS Accession No. 110053. 
     
     
         8 . A conditioned medium of the fungus of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         9 . A substantially pure culture of the fungus  Acaromyces ingoldii  nom. prov. ( A. ingoldii ). 
     
     
         10 . The culture of  claim 9 , wherein said culture is biologically pure. 
     
     
         11 . The fungus of  claim 9 , designated CBS Accession No. 110050. 
     
     
         12 . A conditioned medium of the fungus of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . Biologically active products derived from fungi selected from the group consisting of  M. geulakonigae, M. argovae  and  A. ingoldii.    
     
     
         14 . The biologically active products of  claim 13 , wherein the biological activity of said products is miticidal and/or fungicidal. 
     
     
         15 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A composition for the control of fungi, wherein said composition comprises at least one biocontrol agent, derived from any one of the fungi  M. geulakonigae, M. argovae , or  A. ingoldii , and/or from a product thereof, optionally further comprising an agriculturally compatible carrier. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein said biocontrol agent is spores and/or products thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein said carrier is extracted from a liquid culture of any one of said fungi. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, culture medium, oils or other adjuvants or carriers. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , in the form of liquid suspension containing between about 10 7  to about 10 10  spores/ml. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28 , wherein the suspension contains about 10 8  spores/ml. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 24 , further comprising a conventional adjuvant used in formulations for biocontrol agents. 
     
     
         31 . A method for producing a fungicide and/or a miticide, wherein the active ingredient of said fungicide/miticide is any one of  M. geulakonigae, M. argovae , or  A. ingoldii , or any combination thereof, and/or a culture thereof, and/or any product or derivative thereof, comprising culturing said fungus and optionally isolating said active ingredient from the culture. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said method comprises the steps of:
 (a) cultivating, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, any one of the fungi  M. geulakonigae, M. argovae , or  A. ingoldii  in an appropriate culture medium;   (b) harvesting the culture;   (c) separating the spores from the liquid medium;   and either   (d) suspending the spores in an agriculturally compatible liquid carrier to give a fungicide/miticide in liquid form;   or   (e) lyophilizing the spores, to give a dry form fungicide/miticide.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said dry form fungicide/miticide is further dissolved in an agriculturally compatible liquid carrier. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fungus is cultured at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 30° C. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the temperature is from about 23° C. to about 27° C. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the temperature is 25° C. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fungus is cultured at a pH from about 5.1 to about 5.6. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the pH is about 5.1. 
     
     
         39 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method of controlling fungi contamination in a plant susceptible to said fungi, which comprises applying the fungicide composition of  claim 24  to the plant. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the fungal infestation is due to  Sphaerotheca fusca  (powdery mildew). 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said plant is any commercial plant susceptible to powdery mildew diseases or other phytopathogenic fungal diseases.