Methods and compositions for controlling Root Lesion Nematodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10448645-B2
Application number	US-201615373203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2016
Priority date	Dec 11, 2015
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure provides compositions comprising Root-Lesion Nematode (RLN)-inhibitory Methylobacterium sp., as well as cell-free culture supernatants, fractions, and concentrates obtained from the Root-Lesion Nematode (RLN)-inhibitory Methylobacterium sp. Also provided are related methods for controlling RLN infections of plants, and methods of making the compositions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for reducing Pratylenchus sp. damage to a plant that comprises
(a) planting a seed that has been treated with a composition comprising: (i) a Methylobacterium selected from the group consisting of NLS0021, NLS0038, NLS0042, NLS0069, NLS00934, NLS0062, and NLS0089, wherein the Methylobacterium strains NLS0021, NLS0038, NLS0042, NLS0069, NLS00934, NLS0062, and NLS0089 have been deposited under Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (NRRL) Designation Nos. NRRL B-50939, NRRL B-50942, NRRL B-50932, NRRL B-50936, NRRL B-67341, NRRL B-50937, and NRRL B-50933, respectively; and wherein the Methylobacterium is heterologous to the seed; and (ii) an agriculturally acceptable excipient and/or an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant; and
(b) growing the plant from said treated seed in soil in the presence of a population of Pratylenchus sp. nematodes, wherein Pratylenchus sp. damage to the plant is reduced.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Methylobacterium is present on said treated seed in an amount of at least about 1×10 3 colony forming units (CFU) of said Methylobacterium per treated seed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a beneficial microorganism other than Methylobacterium.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the beneficial microorganism other than Methylobacterium is selected from a Bacillus sp., a Pseudomonas sp., a Coniothyrium sp., a Pantoea sp., a Streptomyces sp., and a Trichoderma sp.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Methylobacterium is: (i) NLS0021 and the seed is not a lettuce seed; (ii) NLS0038 and the seed is not a tomato seed; (iii) NLS0042 or NLS0934 and the seed is not a soybean seed; (iv) NLS0062 or NLS0069 and the seed is not a corn seed; or NLS0089 and the seed is not a broccoli seed.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying a composition comprising a Root-Lesion Nematode (RLN)-inhibitory Methylobacterium sp. isolate selected from the group consisting of Methylobacterium NLS0021, NLS0038, NLS0042, NLS0069, NLS00934, NLS0062, and NLS0089 to soil where the plant is growing or will be grown.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction in damage is shown by an increase in yield, shoot weight, root weight, or a combination thereof in the plant in comparison to the control plant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seed is a wheat seed or tomato seed.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Pratylenchus sp. is selected from the group consisting of Pratylenchus brachyurus, Pratylenchus coffeae, P. neglectus, Pratylenchus penetrans, Pratylenchus scribneri, Pratylenchus thornei, Pratylenchus vulnus , and Pratylenchus zeae.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seed is selected from the group consisting of a Brassica sp., corn, wheat, rye, rice, alfalfa, rye, sorghum, millet, soybean, tobacco, potato, peanut, carrot, cotton, coffee, coconut, pineapple, sugar beet, strawberry, oat, barley, tomato, lettuce, pepper, pea, onion, green bean, and cucurbit seed.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pesticide.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pesticide is a nematicide, a fungicide or a bacteriocide.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the nematicide provides for inhibition of RLN growth, motility, and/or reproduction; and/or reductions in RLN-mediated plant damage.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the nematicide is selected from the group consisting of an organophosphate, biological, and a carbamate nematicide.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Methylobacterium is present on said treated seed in an amount of at or above about 1×10 6 colony forming units (CFU) of said Methylobacterium per seed.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said seed is a wheat seed.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said population of Pratylenchus sp. plant parasitic nematodes in soil where said plant is grown is reduced in comparison to the population of Pratylenchus sp. plant parasitic nematodes in soil where a control plant is grown from a control seed that is not treated with the Methylobacterium and that is grown in the presence of a population of Pratylenchus sp. plant parasitic nematodes.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising surveying soil in which the plant is to be grown for the presence of the Pratylenchus sp., wherein the treated seed is planted when Pratylenchus sp levels in the soil are above levels that would result in Pratylenchus sp. damage in a plant grown from an untreated seed.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a Methylobacterium selected from the group consisting of NLS0064, NLS0017, NLS0065, and NLS0068, wherein the Methylobacterium strains NLS0064, NLS0017, NLS0065, and NLS0068 have been deposited under Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (NRRL) Designation Nos. NRRL B-50938, NRRL B-50931, NRRL B-50935, and NRRL B-50934, respectively.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Methylobacterium is selected from the group consisting of NLS0021, NLS0038, and NLS0069.

Assignees

• Newleaf Symbiotics Inc

Inventors

• Breakfield Natalie
• Bogosian Gregg

Classifications

• A01N63/00 Primary

  Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, animals or substances produced by, or obtained from, microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi or animals, e.g. enzymes or fermentates (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00; unicellular algae A01N65/03) · CPC title

• A01N25/00

  Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application {, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application}; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests · CPC title

• A01P5/00

  Nematocides · CPC title

• A01N63/20 Primary

  Bacteria; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom · CPC title