Agriculturally beneficial microbes, microbial compositions, and consortia

Abstract

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same, in methods for imparting beneficial properties to target plant species. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable plant traits in agronomically important crop species.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of improving a trait of agronomic importance of a plant species, comprising:
 applying an isolated bacterial species to a plant, or to a growth medium in which the plant is located, wherein the isolated bacterial species is  Arthrobacter nicotinovorans.      
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises applying a microbial consortium which comprises the isolated bacterial species. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated bacterial species 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, and a biologically active agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the isolated bacterial species is present in the agricultural composition at about 1×10 3  to about 1×10 12  bacterial cells per gram. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying step occurs by: coating a plant seed with the isolated bacterial species 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, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the bacterial seed coating comprises the isolated bacterial species at a concentration of about 1×10 5  to about 1×10 9  bacterial cells per seed. 
     
     
         7 . A method of improving a trait of agronomic importance of a plant species, the method comprising:
 applying an isolated bacterial species to a plant or to a growth medium having a plant, wherein the bacterial species is  Arthrobacter nicotiovorans  deposited as Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67289, NRRL B-67290, or ATCC 49919.   
     
     
         8 . A method of improving a trait of agronomic importance of a plant species, the method comprising:
 applying an isolated bacterial species to a plant or to a growth medium having a plant, wherein the bacterial species comprises SEQID NO:8 or SEQID NO:9.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is plant biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, root length, shoot length, solubilization of minerals, chelation of micronutrients, or any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is plant biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, root length, shoot length, solubilization of minerals, chelation of micronutrients, cold tolerance, leaf chlorophyll content, root nodulation, or any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is plant biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, root length, shoot length, solubilization of minerals, chelation of micronutrients, or any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is plant biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, root length, shoot length, solubilization of minerals, chelation of micronutrients, cold tolerance, leaf chlorophyll content, root nodulation, or any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is plant biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, root length, shoot length, solubilization of minerals, chelation of micronutrients, or any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the trait of agronomic importance is plant biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, root length, shoot length, solubilization of minerals, chelation of micronutrients, cold tolerance, leaf chlorophyll content, root nodulation, or any combination of the preceding. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the consortium further comprises  Chryseobacterium rhizosphaerae, Defluviimonas denitrificans, Pseudomonas putida , or any combination thereof.