Compositions and methods for controlling plant-parasite nematode

Abstract

An entity having anti-nematodal activity derived from Bacillus firmus bacteria selected from the group consisting of isolated biosurfactant, isolated protease enzyme, isolated amylase, isolated lipase, and isolated cellulase, is disclosed. The disclosure also provides for compositions comprising the same, methods of making the same, methods of controlling plant-parasite nematode, and methods of protecting plants.

1 . An entity having anti-nematodal activity derived from a bacterium having anti-nematodal activity, wherein the entity is at least one selected from the group consisting of an isolated biosurfactant, an isolated protease, an isolated amylase, an isolated lipase, and an isolated cellulase. 
     
     
         2 . The entity according to  claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is of the species Bacillus firmus. 
     
     
         3 . The entity according to  claim 2 , wherein the strain of  Bacillus firmus  is strain GB-126. 
     
     
         4 . The entity according to  claim 1 , wherein the entity is at least one biosurfactant obtainable by a method comprising:
 A. obtaining a medium in which the bacterium has been grown,   B. precipitating biosurfactant from the medium.   
     
     
         5 . The entity according to  claim 1 , wherein the entity has anti-nematodal activity against  Rotlyenchulus reniformis.    
     
     
         6 . A composition having anti-nematodal activity comprising at least one entity according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the bacterium is of the species  Bacillus firmus.    
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the strain bacterium of species  Bacillus firmus  is strain GB-126. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition has anti-nematodal activity against  Rotlyenchulus reniformis.    
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 6  comprising at least one isolated biosurfactant. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the biosurfactant concentration is greater than 0.5 ppm. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the biosurfactant concentration is at least 1 ppm. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 10  wherein the biosurfactant concentration is from 1 to 2 ppm. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the biosurfactant concentration is at least 2 ppm. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 6  comprising at least one acid precipitate from a culture medium in which the bacterium was grown. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one acid precipitate is obtainable by a method comprising:
 (a) adding an acid to a medium in which a bacterium has been grown to generate an acid precipitate, and   (b) isolating the acid precipitate from the medium.   
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the medium is obtained by growing a bacterium at 37° C. for 48 h in a flask comprising containing a minimal salt medium supplemented with yeast extract and glucose. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one acid precipitate is generated by adding a mineral acid to the medium to obtain a final pH of 2.0. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the mineral acid is HCl. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one acid precipitate is isolated from the medium by centrifugation and extracting the acid precipitate with dicloromethane or methanol. 
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling plant-parasitic nematode comprising applying an entity according to  claim 1  to a plant, seed material, and/or an area on which a plant grows. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the plant-parasitic nematode is  Rotylenchulus reniformis.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the plant is cotton. 
     
     
         24 . A method of protecting a plant comprising applying a entity according to  claim 1  to a plant, seed material, and/or an area on which a plant grows. 
     
     
         25 . An extract of a  Bacillus firmus  culture having the following characteristics: anti-nematodal activity and/or presence of a biosurfactant. 
     
     
         26 . An extract of a  Bacillus firmus  culture having the following characteristics: anti-nematodal activity and/or activity selected from the group consisting of protease activity, amylase activity, lipase activity, and cellulase activity. 
     
     
         27 . An entity according to  claim 1 , capable of being used to protect a plant. 
     
     
         28 . An entity according to  claim 1 , capable of being used to control at least one plant-parasitic nematode.