Competitive and effective bacterial strains

Abstract

According to the present invention new isolates of bacterial strains have been shown to possess unique properties. These bacterial strains are plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), posses an enhanced competitive advantage at colonizing leguminous plants, and enhance the overall performance of leguminous plant growth. Further still, the present invention discloses a novel method for screening and selecting bacterial strains having the aforementioned beneficial characteristics.

1 . A non-naturally occurring composition comprising at least one of:
 the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50586;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50587;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50588;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50589;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50590;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50591;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50592;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50593;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50594;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50726;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50727;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50728;   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50729; and   the  Bradyrhizobia japonicum  strain having the deposit accession number NRRL B-50730.   
     
     
         2 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is formulated as a liquid inoculant. 
     
     
         3 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is formulated as a solid inoculant. 
     
     
         4 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO). 
     
     
         5 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one chitooligosaccharide (CO). 
     
     
         6 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one flavonoid. 
     
     
         7 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one phosphate solubilising microorganism. 
     
     
         8 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strain of  Penicillium.    
     
     
         9 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strain of  Penicillium bilaiae.    
     
     
         10 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one strain of  Penicillium bilaiae  comprises the strain of  P. bilaiae  having the deposit accession number ATCC 18309. 
     
     
         11 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one strain of  Penicillium bilaiae  comprises the strain of  P. bilaiae  having the deposit accession number ATCC 20851. 
     
     
         12 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one strain of  Penicillium bilaiae  comprises the strain of  P. bilaiae  having the deposit accession number ATCC 22348. 
     
     
         13 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one strain of  Penicillium bilaiae  comprises the strain of  P. bilaiae  having the deposit accession number NRRL 50162. 
     
     
         14 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one strain of  Penicillium bilaiae  comprises the strain  P. bilaiae  having the deposit accession number NRRL 50169. 
     
     
         15 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strain of  Penicillium gaestrivorus.    
     
     
         16 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one strain of  Penicillium gaestrivorus  the strain of  P. gaestrivorus  having the deposit accession number NRRL 50170. 
     
     
         17 . The non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one agriculturally acceptable pesticide. 
     
     
         18 . A coated seed characterized in that the coating comprises the non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising applying the non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1  to a plant or plant part. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising introducing the non-naturally occurring composition of  claim 1  into a plant growth medium.