Methods and compositions for altering secondary metabolites in plants

Abstract

The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for altering the production of one or more secondary plant metabolites comprising applying an effective amount of at least one elicitor, wherein the elicitor is a jasmonate or a salicylate, and combinations thereof. The disclosure further teaches compositions comprising effective amounts of the elicitors disclosed here. The disclosure further relates to methods and compositions for controlling plant pathogens, such as fungal pathogens.

1 . A method of inhibiting a plant pest or pathogen, said method comprising:
 applying an effective amount of an elicitor to a plant or plant part, wherein the elicitor is a jasmonate selected from the group consisting of methyl jasmonate, jasmonic acid, methyl dihydrojasmonate, cis-jasmone, transjasmone, methyl (+)-7-isojasmonate, dihydrojasmonate, prohydrojasmone, isojasmone, methyl dihydro iso jasmonate, and analogues, isomers, derivatives or conjugates thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the jasmonate is methyl dihydrojasmonate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the effective amount comprises a composition having between 1 mM and 1 M of methyl dihydrojasmonate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises about 7.5 mM of methyl dihydrojasmonate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises about 10 mM of methyl dihydrojasmonate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises about 20 mM of methyl dihydrojasmonate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of  claims 3 , wherein the composition comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of an additional elicitor, fungicide, pesticide, and plant beneficial nutrient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the additional elicitor is 1-methylcyclopropene. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is applied two or more times, thereby carrying out a plurality of composition applications. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each composition application is separated by at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 days. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each composition application is separated by between 5-20 days. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each application is separated by about 14 days. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein an effective amount of a salicylate is also applied to the plant or plant part. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the salicylate is methyl salicylate and/or salicylic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is applied as a foliar spray or root drench to a plant or plant part. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is applied to a plant part by spray, dip, gas, or rinse. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plant part is a raw agricultural commodity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the raw agricultural commodity is a fresh fruit or vegetable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plant or plant part is selected from  Cannabis  spp.,  Persea  spp.  Ipomoea  spp.,  Citrus  spp.,  Solanum  spp.,  Fragaria  spp.,  Mangifera  spp.,  Ananas  spp.  Vitis  spp.,  Latuca  spp.,  Spinacia  spp.,  Brassica  spp.,  Apteryx  spp.,  Prunus  spp.,  Juglans  spp.,  Malus  spp.,  Vacinnium  spp.,  Rubus  spp.,  Coffea  spp.,  Musa  spp.,  Punica  spp.,  Ficus  spp.,  Olea  spp.,  Cocos  spp.,  Theobroma  spp.,  Cucumis  spp.,  Phoenix  spp.,  Anacardium  spp.,  Humulus  spp.,  Saccharum  spp.,  Carica  spp.,  Salvia  spp.,  Pistacia  spp.,  Mentha  spp.,  Allium  spp.,  Asparagus  spp., and  Cynara  spp. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pathogen is a mold is selected from the group consisting of  Fusarium  spp.,  Aspergillus  spp.,  Rhizopus  spp.,  Penicillium  spp.,  Cladosporium  spp.,  Botrytis  spp.,  Alternaria  spp.,  Mucor  spp.,  Colletotrichum  spp.,  Nectria  spp.,  Diaporthe  spp.,  Geotrichum  spp.,  Sclerotinia  spp.,  Verticillium  spp.,  Pythium  spp.,  Phytophthora  spp.,  Erysiphe  spp.,  Eutypa  spp.,  Candidatus  spp.,  Erwinia  spp.,  Phymatotrichopsis  spp.,  Podosphaera  spp.,  Uncinula  spp.,  Leveillula  spp.,  Cochliobolus  spp.,  Ophiostoma  spp.,  Uromyces  spp.,  Puccinia  spp.,  Cladosporium  spp.,  Ralstonia  spp.,  Xanthomonas  spp.,  Xylella  spp.,  Puccinia  spp., and  Liberobacter  spp.