Compositions and methods for improving rice growth and restricting arsenic uptake

Abstract

Methods according to the invention administering one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to a plant, particularly a rice plant, to the seed of the plant, or to soil surrounding the plant in an amount effective to inhibit infection by a plant pathogen, particularly rice blast, to increase the biomass of the plant, and/or to decrease arsenic uptake by the plant.

1 . A method for inhibiting a fungal infection of a plant by a plant pathogen comprises administering one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the plant, to the seed of the plant, or to soil surrounding the plant, in an amount effective to inhibit infection by the plant pathogen compared to an untreated plant. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a rice plant and the fungal pathogen is rice blast. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to roots of the rice plant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the seed of the rice plant prior to planting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the roots of the rice plant in an amount of about 1×10 7  to about 1×10 9 CFU/plant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein symptoms of the rice blast are reduced by about 5% to about 100% compared to an untreated plant. 
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a greater biomass in a plant comprising administering one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the plant, to the seed of the plant, or to soil surrounding the plant, in an amount effective to produce a greater biomass in the plant compared to an untreated plant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant is a rice plant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to roots of the rice plant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the seed of the rice plant prior to planting. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the roots of the rice plant in an amount of about 1×10 7  to about 1×10 9 CFU/plant. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a lower arsenic concentration in a plant comprising administering one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the plant, to the seed of the plant, or to soil surrounding the plant, in an amount effective to produce a lower concentration of arsenic in the plant compared to an untreated plant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plant is a rice plant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to roots of the rice plant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the seed of the rice plant prior to planting. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates to the roots of the rice plant in an amount of about 1×10 7  to about 1×10 9 CFU/plant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising administering the one or more rice rhizosphere isolates in an amount effective to produce a lower concentration of arsenic in the plant by about 5% to about 100% compared to an untreated plant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the rhizosphere isolate comprises EA106. 
     
     
         19 . An agricultural carrier comprising one or more rice rhizosphere isolates. 
     
     
         20 . The agricultural carrier of  claim 19  wherein the rice rhizosphere isolate comprises EA106.