Methods, compositions, and media for improving plant traits
AssigneePivot Bio, Inc.
InventorsKarsten Temme, Alvin Tamsir, Sarah Bloch, Neal Shah, Shayin Gottlieb, Richard Broglie, Emily Tung, Rosemary Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of predicting in planta phenotypes of microbial strains are provided. The methods can include culturing microbial strains in a plant exudate medium and assaying in vitro phenotypes of the microbial strains. The methods may also include using the in vitro phenotypes to predict in planta phenotypes of the microbial strains. Methods of using the microbial strains in field trials are also provided.
Claims19
A method of selecting a plant-associated microbe that is attracted to a component of a plant exudate medium (PEM), the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining or providing a semisolid agar plate comprising multiple regions, said multiple regions comprising:
- (i) a first region comprising agar dissolved in a rich medium;
- (ii) a last region comprising agar dissolved in said PEM;
- and
- (iii) a plurality of intermediate regions that each comprise a mix of said rich medium and said PEM to form a gradient from said first region to said last region;
- (b) applying a plurality of putative plant-associated microbes to said first region;
- (c) culturing said plurality of putative plant-associated microbes for a period of time;
- and
- (d) collecting one or more microbes which have migrated the furthest from said first region toward said last region, thereby selecting said plant-associated microbe.
A method of selecting a genetically modified microbial strain having an altered in planta phenotype, the method comprising:
- (a) culturing a genetically modified microbial strain in a plant exudate medium (PEM);
- (b) assaying an in vitro phenotype of said genetically modified microbial strain;
- and
- (c) selecting said genetically modified microbial strain if it exhibits an alteration in said in vitro phenotype compared to a non-genetically modified microbial strain of the same species cultured under similar conditions, thereby selecting said genetically modified microbial strain having said altered in planta phenotype.
A method of conducting a field trial of a plant beneficial microbial strain, comprising:
- (a) culturing a plurality of plant beneficial microbial strains in a plant exudate medium (PEM);
- (b) assaying an in vitro phenotype of said plurality of plant beneficial microbial strains;
- (c) selecting a plant beneficial microbial strain that exhibits a desired in vitro phenotype;
- (d) contacting said selected plant beneficial microbial strain with plants in a field;
- and
- (e) assessing a plant phenotype of said plants in said field as compared to similar plants in a similar field which are not contacted with said selected plant beneficial microbial strain.
An engineered microbe which comprises a modification which alters chemoattraction to a component of a plant exudate medium (PEM).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.