Methods of Screening for Microorganisms that Impart Beneficial Properties to Plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the screening, identification and/or application of microorganisms and/or compositions of use in imparting beneficial properties to plants, and microorganisms and compositions identified therefrom.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A method of imparting a beneficial trait upon a plant, comprising:
 applying at least one bacterial species to a plant or to a growth medium having a plant, wherein the at least one bacterial species is selected from  Arthrobacter cupressi  and  Kosakonia radicincitans.      
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying occurs by:
 coating a plant seed with the bacteria thereby resulting in a bacterial seed coating,   coating a plant part with the bacteria,   spraying the bacteria onto a plant part,   spraying the bacteria into a furrow into which a plant or seed will be placed,   drenching the bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed,   spreading the bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed,   broadcasting the bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed,   combining the bacteria with a fertilizer or other agricultural composition, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated bacterial strain is formulated in an agricultural composition with one or more of the following: an agriculturally acceptable carrier, a pesticide, a plant growth regulator, a beneficial agent or a biologically active agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying at least one additional bacterial species from the group consisting of:  Bradyrhizobium betae, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Enterobacter soli, Klebsiella variicola, Kosakonia oryzae, Paenibacillus azotifigens, Paenibacillus borealis, Paenibacillus graminis, Paenibacillus odorifer, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Paenibacillus taohuashanense, Rahnella aquatilis , and  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.    
     
     
         5 . An agricultural composition comprising at least one bacterial species selected from the group consisting of  Arthrobacter cupressi  and an agriculturally acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The agricultural composition according to  claim 5 , further comprising one or more of: a pesticide, a plant growth regulator, a beneficial agent, and a biologically active agent. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the bacterial species is present in the composition at 1×10 3  to 1×10 12  bacterial cells per gram. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the agricultural composition is formulated as a seed coating. 
     
     
         9 . The agricultural composition according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one additional bacterial species from the group consisting of:  Bradyrhizobium betae, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Enterobacter soli, Klebsiella variicolam, Kosakonia oryzae, Paenibacillus azotifigens, Paenibacillus borealis, Paenibacillus graminis, Paenibacillus odorifer, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Paenibacillus taohuashanense, Rahnella aquatilis , and  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.