Composition and method for reducing fungal infections in crops

Abstract

A composition useful for application to plants, seeds or soil to inhibit fungal infections comprising a protein source inoculated with from 5×10 7 cfu to 5×10 9 cfu of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the protein source.

1 . A composition, comprising a protein source and a  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain in an amount effective to control fungal growth. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the protein source is a processed protein source. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the processed protein source is a processed plant-based protein source. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the protein source is selected from soybean flour or cotton seed meal. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain is at least 10 7  cfu per gram of the protein source. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising from 10 7  cfu to 10 9  cfu of the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain per gram of the protein source. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain has the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 712, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-122189. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain has the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 730, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-124660. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising soil, wherein a combined amount of the protein source and the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain is from greater than zero to 5% of the mass of the soil. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the combined amount of the protein source and the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain is from greater than zero to 0.33% of the mass of the soil. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a seed. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a seed, soybean flour or cotton seed meal, and from 10 7  cfu to 10 9  cfu of a  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain per gram of the soybean flour or cotton seed meal. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising inoculating a protein source with an amount of a  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain effective to control fungal growth. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the protein source is inoculated with from 10 7  cfu to 10 9  cfu of the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain per gram of the protein source;   the protein source is selected from soybean flour or cotton seed meal;   the  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain has the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 712, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-122189, or the identifying characteristics of a bacterium designated strain OBT 730, deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-124660; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising applying to a seed, or to soil in which a plant is grown, a composition comprising a processed plant-based protein source and a  Bacillus  strain. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is added to the soil in which a plant is grown, such that the composition is present in the soil at an amount of from greater than zero to 5% of the mass of the soil. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is added to the soil such that the composition is present in the soil at an amount of from greater than zero to 0.33% of the mass of the soil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is applied to a seed. 
     
     
         19 . A seed prepared by the method of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . The seed of  claim 19 , wherein the Bacillus strain is a  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  strain.