Seed-origin endophyte populations, compositions, and methods of use

A synthetic combination of a purified bacterial population in association with a seed of a cereal agricultural plant, wherein the synthetic combination is produced by the step of contacting the seed with a formulation comprising a heterologous purified bacterial population, wherein the purified bacterial population comprises a seed bacterial endophyte that has a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least 97% identical to a 16S nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

• 522, 658, 588, 560, 536, 1447, 530, and is capable of producing an auxin or acetoin, under conditions such that the formulation becomes disposed upon an exterior surface of the seed at a concentration of at least 103 CFU/seed and in a manner effective for the seed bacterial endophyte to increase grain yield of a cereal agricultural plant produced from the seed, relative to a reference plant grown under the same conditions.

A synthetic combination comprising a purified bacterial population in association with a seed of a cereal agricultural plant, wherein the purified bacterial population comprises a seed bacterial endophyte that is heterologous to the seed, has a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least 97% identical to a 16S nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

• 522, 658, 588, 560, 536, 1447, 530, is present at a concentration of at least 103 CFU/seed on the surface of a seed, and is capable of producing an auxin or acetoin, wherein the seed bacterial endophyte is present in the synthetic combination in an amount effective to increase the level of at least one protein involved in resistance to oxidative stress within the seed, a seedling grown from the seed or a cereal agricultural plant produced by the seed, as compared to a reference seed, seedling or plant grown under the same conditions.