Anti-phytopathogenic compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to an isolated bacterium and composition comprising same having anti-pathogenic activity. The invention further relates to compounds derived from said bacterium or analogs thereof, and methods of using same for treating or reducing the symptoms of a pathogen including but not limited to a phytopathogen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of avoiding, treating or reducing a symptom of a pathogen residing in a plant's vascular system, the method comprising the step of contacting said pathogen, a plant or a plant part with an isolated bacterium comprising a nucleic acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to: SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one additional nucleic acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NO: 2-14, thereby avoiding, treating or reducing the symptoms of the pathogen. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vascular system comprises xylem. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vascular system comprises phloem. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said symptom results in damage to said plant or said plant part. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said symptom comprises: leaf discoloration, a plant part necrosis, yellowing of a leaf, lesions, leaf curling, lack or incomplete lignifications of a shoot, downward of a leaf, inflorescence abortion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said symptom is related to: callose deposition, degeneration of the phloem or both. 
     
     
         7 . A method of preventing a symptom of a vascular system pathogen in a plant, the method comprising the step of contacting said plant or a plant part with an isolated bacterium comprising a nucleic acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to: SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one additional nucleic acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NO: 2-14, thereby preventing a symptom of a pathogen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said vascular system comprises xylem. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said vascular system comprises phloem. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said symptom results in damage to said plant or said plant part. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said symptom comprises: leaf discoloration, a plant part necrosis, yellowing of a leaf, lesions, leaf curling, lack or incomplete lignifications of a shoot, downward of a leaf, inflorescence abortion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said symptom is related to: callose deposition, degeneration of the phloem or both.