Biological Control of Plant Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an isolated Aureobasidium pullulans yeast strain YBCA5 as a biological control agent. Processes and compositions for the biological control of phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi using YBCA5 are also provided.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A composition comprising  Aureobasidium pullulans  yeast strain YBCA5 (CBS Accession # 141880) and an agriculturally acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25  wherein YBCA5 is present in the form of reproductively viable cells. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the concentration of YBCA5 viable cells ranges from about 1×10 5  to about 1×10 11  CFU per gram for solid compositions, and about 1×10 7  to about 1×10 8  CFU per millilitre for liquid compositions. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the concentration of YBCA5 viable cells ranges from about 2×10 7  to about 2×10 8  CFU per gram for solid compositions, and about 1×10 7  to about 1×10 8  CFU per millilitre for liquid compositions. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the concentration of YBCA5 viable cells ranges from about 2×10 9  to about 2×10 10  CFU per gram for solid compositions, and about 1×10 7  to about 1×10 8  CFU per millilitre for liquid compositions. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one agriculturally acceptable adjuvant. 
     
     
         31 . A method of controlling  Pseudomonas  spp. bacteria on a plant or part thereof, the method comprising contacting the plant or part thereof with YBCA5, or a composition of  claim 25 . 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one strain of  Pseudomonas  spp. bacteria is a strain of bacteria selected from the group consisting of  P. syringae, P. amygdalia, P. avellanae, P. caricapapayae, P. cichorii, P. coronafaciens, P. ficuserectae, P. helianthi, P. lemiae, P. savastanoi , and  P. viridiflava , or a pathovar thereof, or combinations thereof, 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one strain of  Pseudomonas  spp. bacteria is  P. syringae  or a pathovar thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one strain of  Pseudomonas  spp. bacteria is  P. syringae  pv.  actinidiae  (Psa). 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plant or part thereof is an agriculturally important plant, cultivar thereof, or product thereof, selected from olive trees, apple trees, pear trees, citrus fruit trees, banana trees, pineapple trees, peach trees, apricot trees, cherry trees, walnut trees and hazelnut trees, wherein the products thereof are olives, apples, pears, citrus fruits, bananas, pineapples, peaches, apricots, cherries, walnuts and hazelnuts, respectively. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plant or part thereof is an agriculturally important plant, cultivar thereof, or product thereof, selected from potato vines, beetroot vines, bean vines, pea vines, tomato vines, cucumber vines, melon vines, berry vines, grape vines and kiwifruit vines, and the products thereof are potatoes, beetroots, beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, berries, grapes and kiwifruits, respectively. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the agriculturally important plant, cultivar thereof, or product thereof, is a kiwifruit vine or cultivar thereof, and the product is kiwifruit. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the kiwifruit vine is selected from the group consisting of species of green-fleshed kiwifruit ( Actinidia chinensis  var.  deliciosa ), golden kiwifruit ( A. chinensis  var.  chinensis ), Chinese egg gooseberry ( A. coriacea ), baby kiwifruit ( A. arguta ), Arctic kiwifruit ( A. kolomikta ), red kiwifruit ( A. melanandra, A. chinensis  var.  chinensis ), silver vine ( A. polygama ), and purple kiwifruit ( A. purpurea ) or a cultivar thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the kiwifruit are selected from the group consisting of  A. chinensis  var.  deliciosa  and  A. chinensis  var.  chinensis  species or a cultivar thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the kiwifruit is a ‘Hayward’, ‘Hort16A’ or ‘Hongyang’ variety cultivar. 
     
     
         41 . A method of controlling at least one phytopathogenic fungus on a plant or part thereof, the method comprising contacting the plant or part thereof with YBCA5, or a composition of  claim 25 . 
     
     
         42 . A method of  claim 41 , wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is a  Monilinia  spp. Fungus. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is  Monilinia fruticola.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is selected from the group consisting of  Botrytis  spp.,  Colletotrichum  spp.,  Penicillium  spp.,  Phomopsis  spp.,  Alternaria  spp.,  Sclerotinia  spp., and  Cryptosporiopsis  spp. fungus.