Plant growth-promoting microbes and uses therefor

Abstract

Microbial strains, compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant are provided. Also provided are materials and methods for presenting, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or phytopathogenic diseases. The disclosure also provides non-naturally occurring plant and derivatives thereof such as plants artificially infected with a microbial strain of the invention.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for enhancing the growth and/or yield of a plant, said method comprising applying an effective amount of a microbial strain comprising a DNA sequence exhibiting 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 to the plant, or to the plant's surroundings. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said microbial strain is grown in a growth medium or soil of a host plant prior to or concurrent with host plant growth in said growth medium or soil. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said plant is a corn plant or a wheat plant. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said microbial strain is established as an endophyte on said plant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said microbial strain is grown in a growth medium or soil of a host plant prior to or concurrent with host plant growth in said growth medium or soil. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said plant pathogen is selected from the group consisting of  Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Gibberella, Monographella, Penicillium , and  Stagnospora  organisms. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said plant pathogen is selected from the group consisting of  Colletotrichum graminicola, Fusarium graminearum, Gibberella zeae, Monographella nivalis, Penicillium  sp., or  Stagnospora noduruin.    
     
     
         20 . A method for preventing, inhibiting or treating the development of a plant pathogen, said method comprising applying an effective amount of a microbial strain comprising a DNA sequence exhibiting 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 to the plant, or to the plant's surroundings. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said microbial strain is applied to soil, a seed, a root, a flower, a leaf, a portion of the plant, or the whole plant. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for preparing an agricultural composition, said method comprising inoculating a microbial strain comprising a DNA sequence exhibiting 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 into or onto a substratum and allowing said microbial strain or culture to grow at a temperature of 1¬37° C. until obtaining a number of cells or spores of at least 10 2 -10 3  per milliliter or per gram. 
     
     
         25 . The method accordingly to  claim 20 , wherein said plant is a corn plant or a wheat plant. 
     
     
         26 . The method accordingly to  claim 20 , wherein said microbial strain is established as an endophyte on said plant. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said DNA sequence exhibits at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said DNA sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said DNA sequence exhibits at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said DNA sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said DNA sequence exhibits at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said DNA sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:1.