Bacillus velezensis rti301 compositions and methods of use for benefiting plant growth and treating plant disease

A plant seed coated with a composition comprising:

• spores of a biologically pure culture of Bacillus velezensis RTI301 deposited as ATCC No. PTA-121165, or a mutant thereof having all the identifying characteristics thereof, present in an amount suitable to benefit plant growth and/or to confer protection against a pathogenic infection in a susceptible plant.

A composition for one or both of benefiting plant growth or conferring protection against pathogenic infection in a susceptible plant, the composition comprising:

• a biologically pure culture of Bacillus velezensis RTI301 deposited as ATCC No. PTA-121165, or a mutant thereof having all the identifying characteristics thereof, in an amount suitable to benefit plant growth and/or to confer protection against pathogenic infection in the susceptible plant;
• and
• one or a combination of a microbial, a biological, or a chemical insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, bacteriocide, herbicide, plant extract, plant growth regulator, or fertilizer, in an amount suitable to benefit plant growth and/or to confer protection against pathogenic infection in the susceptible plant.

The composition of claim 15, wherein the composition is in the form of a liquid and the Bacillus velezensis RTI301 is present at a concentration of from about 1.0×108 CFU/ml to about 1.0×1012 CFU/ml.

The product of claim 23, wherein the fungicide is one or a combination of fluopyram, tebuconazole, chlorothalonil, thiophanate-methyl, prothioconazole, fludioxonil, metalaxyl, or copper hydroxide.

The product of claim 23, wherein the insecticide is one or a combination of thiamethoxam, pyrethroids, bifenthrin, tefluthrin, zeta-cypermethrin, organophosphates, chlorethoxyphos, chlorpyrifos, tebupirimphos, cyfluthrin, fiproles, fipronil, nicotinoids, or clothianidin.