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AssigneeAgBiome, Inc.
InventorsPhilip E. Hammer, Janice C. Jones, Michael G. Koziel, Scott Joseph Uknes
Estimating the term…
Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. The modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. Modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and associated diseases, promoting plant growth. The present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Compositions include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or as a seed coating for plants and seeds.
A method for improving a biocontrol agent, said method comprising modifying said biocontrol agent to be resistant to at least one herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical.
A modified biocontrol agent wherein said biocontrol agent has been selected under herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical pressure and is resistant to said herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical.
A method for growing a plant comprising applying to a crop, a seed or an area of cultivation a combination of an effective amount of a biocide and an effective amount of a modified biocontrol agent wherein
A bacterial culture grown from
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Bacteria; Culture media therefor: bacterial isolates
Containing at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and a nitrogen atom attached to the same carbon skeleton…
Having rings with two nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms: 1,3-Diazines; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazines
Triazoles; Hydrogenated triazoles: 1,2,4-Triazoles; Hydrogenated 1,2,4-triazoles
Term end not estimated
The invention relates to modified biocontrol agents and populations that have improved properties.
Plant diseases and pests need to be controlled to maintain the quality and quantity of food, feed, and fiber produced by growers around the world. Plant diseases are mainly caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. Plant pests include chewing, sucking and piercing insects from the Lepdoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera, among others. Chemical pesticides are widely used in farming to protect crops from such pests and diseases. These chemical products fight crop pests, diseases, and weeds, resulting in improved yield. Without crop protection and pest control, food production and the quality of food produced would decline. However, the use of chemical pesticides does impose a level of risk as many have properties that can endanger health and the environment if not used properly.
A problem with the continued use of pesticides, herbicides, or other crop protection chemicals is the development of resistance to the control agent. Pesticide resistance is the decreased susceptibility of a pest population to a control agent at doses that once killed most individuals of the species. Therefore, new products are needed with different modes of action to aid in resistance management.
FIG. 1 provides a growth curve of the various strains in the presence of glyphosate.
Compositions and methods for improving biological control agents are provided. A biological agent or biocontrol agent for purposes of the present invention is used to describe a microorganism that is used to control disease-causing plant pathogens and plant pests. The biological control agents of the invention have been modified such that they are able to grow in the presence of at least one biocide. A biocide is a chemical substance which can exert a controlling effect on an organism by chemical or biological means. Biocides include pesticides, such as fungicides; herbicides; insecticides, other crop protection chemicals, and the like. Compositions of the invention include one or more isolated biocontrol agents that has been selected for resistance to biocides such as a herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical; a recombinant biocontrol agent that has been transformed to contain a herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical resistant gene; a modified population of biocontrol agents wherein the population is resistant to at least one herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical; and compositions comprising these modified populations of biocontrol agents. The modified population may comprise microorganisms that have been selected for herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical resistance or have been transformed with a gene that confers resistance or tolerance to such herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical. Thus, the invention comprises substantially pure cultures, or biologically pure cultures, of such modified biocontrol agents or modified biological agents. A “biologically pure bacterial culture” refers to a culture of bacteria containing no other bacterial species in quantities to be detected by normal bacteriological techniques. Stated another way, it is a culture wherein virtually all of the bacterial cells present are of the selected strain. A modified biocontrol agent includes biocontrol agents that have acquired a trait due to selection pressure and recombinant biocontrol agents that have been transformed with a gene that confers resistance or tolerance to at least one herbicide, fungicide, pesticide, or other crop protection chemical.
The invention further encompasses a particular modified biological control agent. Such agent includes AIP1620. AIP1620 is a Pseudomonas strain that has been selected for glyphosate tolerance. Additional agents include AIP050999. AIP050999 is a Pseudomonas strain that has been selected for glufosinate tolerance.
AIP1620 was deposited with the Patent Depository of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Ill. 61604 U.S.A. on Jan. 31, 2014 and assigned NRRL No. B-50897. AIP050999 was deposited with the Patent Depository of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research Agricultural Research Service, U.S.