Compositions and methods related to isolated endophytes

Abstract

Described herein are compositions and methods related to isolated Trichoderma harzianum and strains thereof.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for increasing stress tolerance, the method comprising:
 manually or mechanically inoculating a plant or a plant seed with an isolated  Trichoderma harzianum  fungus or a spore thereof; or a composition comprising the isolated  Trichoderma harzianum  fungus or a spore thereof, thereby increasing stress tolerance of the inoculated plant.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  19 , wherein the stress is drought, elevated salt, reduced nutrients and/or temperature stress and/or the stress is not the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, napthenic acids, or high pH. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein inoculating the plant comprises colonizing a root, stem and/or leaf of the plant with a Trichoderma harzianum strain fungus or a spore or progeny thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises growing the plant or plant seed. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the plant or plant seed is grown in soil characterized by high salinity, low moisture, and/or low nutrient content. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the high salinity is greater than 35 mM amount of a salt;
 the low moisture content is between 0-0.18 in 3  water/in 3  soil;   the low nutrient content is fewer than 80 lbs/acre of nutrient, wherein the nutrient comprises 20% each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and associated micronutrients;   the plant or plant seed is grown in water characterized by high salinity and/or low nutrient content; and/or   the plant or plant seed is grown or germinated at an average temperature at or above 35 degrees Celsius or at or below 15 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         26 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plant or plant seed is a crop plant or crop plant seed. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the crop plant or crop plant seed is watermelon, tomato, corn, wheat, soybean, cucurbits, peppers, leafy greens, barley, cotton, beans, peas, tubers, berries, woody plants or rice, or a seed thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plant or plant seed is an ornamental, such as Rosaceae, Liliaceae, Azalea, Rhododendron, Poaceae or Chrysanthemum. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the  Trichoderma harzianum  strain fungus is not strain TSTh20-1 or strain T-22. 
     
     
         34 . A method for increasing germination of seeds, the method comprising:
 manually or mechanically inoculating a plant seed with an isolated  Trichoderma harzianum  fungus or a spore thereof; or a composition comprising the isolated  Trichoderma harzianum  fungus or a spore thereof, thereby increasing germination of the inoculated seeds.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the plant seed is previously, concurrently and/or subsequently treated with a fungicide and/or insecticide. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the plant or plant seed is a crop plant or crop plant seed, optionally wherein the crop plant or crop plant seed is watermelon, tomato, corn, wheat, soybean, cucurbits, peppers, leafy greens, barley, cotton, beans, peas, tubers, berries, woody plants or rice, or a seed thereof. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the plant or plant seed is an ornamental, such as Rosaceae, Liliaceae, Azalea, Rhododendron, Poaceae or Chrysanthemum. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the  Trichoderma harzianum  strain fungus is not strain TSTh20-1 or strain T-22. 
     
     
         40 . A method for reducing establishment of fungi other than  Trichoderma harzianum  in a plant, the method comprising:
 manually or mechanically inoculating a plant seed or seedling with an isolated  Trichoderma harzianum  fungus or a spore thereof; or a composition comprising the isolated  Trichoderma harzianum  fungus or a spore thereof, thereby reducing establishment of fungi other than  Trichoderma harzianum  in a plant growing from the inoculated seed or seedling.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the plant or plant seed is a crop plant or crop plant seed. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the crop plant or crop plant seed is watermelon, tomato, corn, wheat, soybean, cucurbits, peppers, leafy greens, barley, cotton, beans, peas, tubers, berries, woody plants or rice, or a seed thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the plant or plant seed is an ornamental, such as Rosaceae, Liliaceae, Azalea, Rhododendron, Poaceae or Chrysanthemum. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the  Trichoderma harzianum  strain fungus is not strain TSTh20-1 or strain T-22.