Lipo-chitooligosaccharide compositions for enhancing plant growth

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions for enhancing plant growth, comprising at least one lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) compound; and at least one agriculturally beneficial agent selected from the group consisting at least one pesticide, at least one beneficial microorganism, and combinations thereof. Methods for enhancing plant growth and treating seeds with the compositions provided herein are also disclosed.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising applying
 (a)  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  TJ1000 and   (b) the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (V):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (VII): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         to a plant seed in amounts effective to synergistically enhance one or more growth parameters of the plant that grows from said seed vis-à-vis separate application of (a) and (b). 
       
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more growth parameters comprises shoot length and/or shoot surface area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more growth parameters comprises root length and/or rot surface area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is leguminous. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a soybean seed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is non-leguminous. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is a corn seed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  TJ1000 is applied to said plant seed at a rate of at least 1×10 4  colony forming units (CFU) per seed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lipo-chitooligosaccharide is applied to said plant seed at a rate of about 1.86 μg per cwt. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (V): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         is applied to said plant seed. 
       
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (VII): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         is applied to said plant seed. 
       
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (V): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         is applied to said plant seed at a rate of about 1.86 mg per cwt. 
       
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (VII): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         is applied to said plant seed at a rate of about 1.86 mg per cwt. 
       
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising
 (a)  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  TJ1000 and   (b) the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by the structure (V):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by the structure (VII): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         in amounts effective to synergistically enhance one or more growth parameters of a plant when said composition is applied to said plant and/or to the seed from which said plant is grown vis-à-vis separate application of (a) and (b). 
       
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said one or more growth parameters comprises shoot length and/or shoot surface area. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said one or more growth parameters comprises root length and/or rot surface area. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition comprises the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (V): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said composition comprises the lipo-chitooligosaccharide represented by structure (VII): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein said composition does not comprise  Trichoderma virens  GI-3.