Endophyte compositions and methods for improvement of plant traits

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and materials for modulating the characteristics of a plant, said plant having been heterologously disposed to an endophyte or a plurality of endophytes, or derived from a plant reproductive element heterologously disposed to an endophyte or a plurality of endophytes.

1 - 158 . (canceled) 
     
     
         159 . A method of improving a trait of agronomic importance in a rice plant, comprising mechanically or manually inoculating a rice plant seed with a treatment formulation, the treatment formulation comprising an agriculturally compatible carrier and a purified fungal population comprising a seed fungal endophyte of the genus  Acremonium  comprising a polynucleotide sequence having 100% nucleotide sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, wherein the endophyte is heterologously disposed to the rice plant seed in an effective amount to colonize a rice plant germinated from the inoculated rice plant seed to improve a trait of agronomic importance. 
     
     
         160 . The method of  claim 159 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is selected from the group consisting of increase in mean dry biomass, yield, germination, plant height, fresh root weight, fresh top weight, fresh total weight, dry root weight, dry top weight, and dry total weight in the rice plant germinated from the inoculated rice seed as compared to a control rice plant germinated from a control rice plant seed lacking the colonized endophyte of the genus  Acremonium  comprising a polynucleotide sequence having 100% nucleotide sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51. 
     
     
         161 . The method of  claim 160 , wherein the effective amount is effective to increase mean dry biomass by at least 10% in a rice plant seedling germinated from said inoculated rice seed as compared to a rice plant seedling germinated from a control rice plant seed lacking the colonized endophyte of the genus  Acremonium  comprising the polynucleotide sequence having 100% nucleotide sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51. 
     
     
         162 . The method of  claim 159 , wherein the rice plant is of a rice variety Rex. 
     
     
         163 . The method of  claim 159 , wherein the treatment formulation further comprises one or more of the following: a stabilizer, a preservative, a surfactant, a fungicide, a nematicide, a bactericide, an insecticide, an herbicide, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         164 . The method of  claim 159 , wherein the treatment formulation further comprises a seed fungal endophyte of the genus  Coniochaeta  comprising a polynucleotide sequence having 100% nucleotide sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41. 
     
     
         165 . The method of  claim 164 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is selected from the group consisting of increase in yield, germination, plant height, fresh root weight, fresh top weight, fresh total weight, dry root weight, dry top weight, and dry total weight in the rice plant. 
     
     
         166 . A synthetic composition comprising a rice plant seed and an endophyte manually or mechanically disposed to the rice plant seed, wherein the endophyte is a member of the genus  Acremonium  comprising a polynucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 51, wherein the endophyte is manually or mechanically disposed to the rice plant seed in an amount effective to colonize a rice plant germinated from the synthetic composition to improve a trait of agronomic importance, wherein the synthetic composition further comprises an adherent comprising mineral oil. 
     
     
         167 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is selected from the group consisting of increase in mean dry biomass, yield, germination, plant height, fresh root weight, fresh top weight, fresh total weight, dry root weight, dry top weight, and dry total weight in the rice plant germinated from inoculated rice seed as compared to a control rice plant germinated from a control rice plant seed lacking the colonized endophyte of the genus  Acremonium  comprising the polynucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 51. 
     
     
         168 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance comprises an increase in mean dry biomass by at least 10% in the rice plant germinated from the inoculated rice seed as compared to the control rice plant from the control rice plant seed lacking the colonized endophyte of genus  Acremonium  comprising the polynucleotide sequence having 100% nucleotide sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SED ID NO: 51. 
     
     
         169 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the rice plant is of a rice variety Rex. 
     
     
         170 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the improved trait of agronomic importance is conferred under normal watering conditions. 
     
     
         171 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , further comprising a formulation that comprises one or more of the following: stabilizer, preservative, surfactant, a fungicide, a nematicide, a bactericide, an insecticide, an herbicide, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         172 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the synthetic composition is shelf-stable. 
     
     
         173 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is an increase in yield. 
     
     
         174 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the rice plant is variety Pfister 38R25. 
     
     
         175 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the formulation comprises talc. 
     
     
         176 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the amount effective to colonize the rice plant is at least 103 CFU/seed. 
     
     
         177 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the synthetic composition further comprises a second endophyte that is a member of the genus  Coniochaeta  comprising a polynucleotide sequence having 100% nucleotide sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41. 
     
     
         178 . The synthetic composition of  claim 166 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is selected from the group consisting of increase in yield, germination, plant height, fresh root weight, fresh top weight, fresh total weight, dry root weight, dry top weight, and dry total weight in the rice plant.