Bioactive Protein, Use Thereof and Method for its Production

Abstract

The present invention according to a firrst aspect relates to a Trichoderma longibrachiatum strain comprising an autologous nucleotide sequence coding for a protein having at least 70% sequence similarity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and its use for the treatment of a plant. Further aspects of the invention relate to a protein derived from said strain, methods for producing the protein, the use of the protein for the treatent of a plant and compositions comprising a source of the protein of the invention. Yet Further aspects of the invention relate to seeds treated with a source of the protein and methods for growing plants incorporating the step of treating said plants with the composition of the invention.

1 . A method of treating a plant, the method comprising:
 employing a  Trichoderma longibrachiatum  strain comprising an autologous nucleotide sequence coding for a protein having at least 85% sequence similarity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, such as  Trichoderma longibrachiatum  strain MK1 deposited as CBS137023, for the treatment of a plant, wherein the treatment of the plant preferably is aimed at one or more selected from (a) plant growth modulation, such as improvement of plant fresh weight, improvement of plant dry weight, improvement of root development, including improvement of root nodulation in  Leguminosae , increase of germination percentage and/or increase of germination speed, or (b) disease control, such as via anti-microbial activity, preferably antifungal activity, or via stimulation of systemic resistance.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the use of  Trichoderma longibrachiatum  is combined with the use of one or more plant biostimulants selected from (i) a  Trichoderma  species other than  Trichoderma longibrachiatum , (ii) harzianic acid or a biologically active isomer thereof, such as, iso-harzianic acid, (iii) 6-pentyl-α-pyrone or (iv) rhizobia. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating a plant, the method comprising:
 employing a protein having at least 85% sequence similarity with an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, for the treatment of a plant, characterized in that the protein is provided as an autologous protein from  Trichoderma longibrachiatum.      
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the use of the protein is combined with the use of one or more plant biostimulants selected from (i) a  Trichoderma  species, preferably a  Trichoderma  species other than  Trichoderma longibrachiatum , (ii) harzianic acid, or a biologically active isomer thereof, such as iso-harzianic acid, (iii) 6-pentyl-α-pyrone or (iv)  rhizobia.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the treatment of the plant is aimed at one or more selected from (a) plant growth modulation, such as improvement of plant fresh weight, improvement of plant dry weight, improvement of root development, including improvement of root nodulation in Leguminosae, increase of germination percentage and/or increase of germination speed, or (b) disease control, such as via antimicrobial activity, preferably antifungal activity, or via stimulation of systemic resistance. 
     
     
         8 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A seed treated with a composition comprising a carrier, such as an agronomically acceptable carrier, and a source of a protein having at least 85% sequence similarity with an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the protein is an autologous protein from a  Trichoderma longibrachiatum  strain. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the protein is provided in a composition comprising a carrier, such as an agronomically acceptable carrier, and a source of a protein having at least 85% sequence similarity with an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the protein is an autologous protein from a  Trichoderma longibrachiatum  strain. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more plant biostimulants such as selected from (i) a  Trichoderma  species, preferably a  Trichoderma  species other than  Trichoderma longibrachiatum , (ii) harzianic acid, or a biologically active isomer thereof, such as iso-harzianic acid, (iii) 6-pentyl-α-pyrone or (iv) rhizobia. 
     
     
         15 . The seed according to  claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more plant biostimulants such as selected from (i) a  Trichoderma  species, preferably a  Trichoderma  species other than  Trichoderma longibrachiatum , (ii) harzianic acid, or a biologically active isomer thereof, such as iso-harzianic acid, (iii) 6-pentyl-α-pyrone or (iv) rhizobia.