Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – per se ; compositions thereof; proces of... – Bacteria or actinomycetales; media therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-01
2004-10-26
Lankford, Jr., Leon B. (Department: 1651)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
Bacteria or actinomycetales; media therefor
C435S256700, C435S252500, C424S093300, C424S093460, C424S093500, C504S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06808917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fungal/bacterial antagonist combinations, a seed coated with said combinations and a plant protected from plant pathogens by said combinations. In particular, the invention relates to fungal/bacterial antagonist combinations and their use for controlling plant pathogens.
Early and late season stalk and root rot are major causes of crop loss. A variety of plants are affected, including tomatoes, peppers, turf grass, soybeans, sunflower, wheat and corn, The pathogens that cause these symptoms include fungi of the genera Fusarium, Phythium, Phytophthora and Penicillium.
One approach to solving the problem of early season damping off of plants is treatment of seeds with fungicides, such as captan, metalaxyl and Maxim. Although these chemicals enhance seed germination and seedling stand by inhibiting the pathogenic ability of Phythium spp. (active in cool, wet soils), they have no activity against the pathogenic fungi that are responsible for late season root and stalk rot.
Fusarium and Penicillium are the pathogens responsible for late season root and stalk rot. These pathogens prefer the warm, dry conditions that occur late in the growing season. There is no chemical or biological fungicide available that addresses the problem of late season root and stalk rot in corn. Currently, the only way to deal with this problem is to periodically rotate to a non-susceptible crop to reduce pathogen numbers. Corn growers can also select hybrids that have better “standability,” but such hybrids usually have lower yields. Unfortunately, the corn varieties with the highest yields are usually those most susceptible to late season root and stalk rot.
Trichoderma is a genus of fungi that contains about 20 species. Synonyms for the genus name include Aleurisma and Sporoderma.
Trichoderma virens
, which is also called
Gliocladium virens
, is a member of the genus. The natural habitats of these fungi include soil and plant material. A member of the genus,
Trichoderma harzianum
KRL-AG2 (ATCC 20847) also known as strain T-22, is used as a biocontrol agent that is applied as a seed or soil treatment or on cuttings and transplants. Strains of the species,
Trichoderma virens
, have also been used for control of damping off diseases in plants. For example,
Gliocladium virens
GL-21 is sold under the tradename SoilGard® (formerly GlioGard).
Bacillus is a genus of rod-shaped, gram-positive, aerobic or (under some conditions) anaerobic bacteria. Bacillus species are widely found in soil and water and some have been used to control plant diseases, including root rot.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
is a spore-forming member of the genus.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
L. L. Cambell strain F (ATCC 23350) is the type strain for the species. Other known and commercially available
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
strains include those having the following ATCC accession numbers: 23842,23843, 23844 and 23845 (Int. J. Sys. Bacteriol. 37:69-71, 1987; J. Bacteriol. 94:1124-1130, 1967).
Bacillus lentimorbus
is another spore-forming member of the genus.
Bacillus lentimorbus
Dutky 1940 (ATCC 14707) is the type strain for the species (Skerman, V. B. D., McGowan, V., and Sneath, P. H. A., Approved lists of bacterial names. Int.
J. Syst. Bacteriol.
30:225-420, 1980). Some researchers consider
Bacillus lentimorbus
to be a variety of
Bacillus popilliae. Bacillus lentimorbus
and
Bacillus popilliae
have recently been reclassified as
Paenibacillus lentimorbus
and
Paenibacillus popilliae
(Pettersson, B., Rippere, K. E., Yousten, A. A. and Priest, F. G., Transfer of
Bacillus lentimorbus
and
Bacillus popilliae
to the genus Paenibacillus with emended descriptions of
Paenibacillus lentimorbus
comb. nov. and
Paenibacillus popilliae
comb. nov., Int.
J. yst. Bacterial
. 49: 531-540, 1999).
Bacillus lentimorbus
and
Bacillus popilliae
are the causative agents of milky disease in Japanese beetles and related scarab larvae and “milky spore” powders are sold under the trade names, “Doom,” “Milky Spore,” “Japidemic” “Grub Killer” and “Grub Attack,” for biocontrol of these insects.
Background art biocontrol products have comprised the bacterium
Burkholderia cepacia
, which is also known as
Pseudomonas cepacia
. This bacterium has been implicated as a human pathogen. Furthermore, it has little or no shelf life unless refrigerated at 4 degrees Centigrade at a minimum of 20 percent moisture.
The background art is characterized by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,881; 4,489,161; 4,642,131; 4,668,512; 4,678,669; 4,713,342; 4,724,147; 4,748,021; 4,818,530; 4,828,600; 4,877,738; 4,915,944; 4,952,229; 5,047,239; 5,049,379; 5,071,462; 5,068,105; 5,084,272; 5,194,258; 5,238,690; 5,260,213; 5,266,316; 5,273,749; 5,300,127; 5,344,647; 5,401,655; 5,422,107; 5,455,028; 5,409,509; 5,552,138; 5,589,381; 5,614,188; 5,628,144; 5,632,987; 5,645,831; 5,665,354; 5,667,779; 5,695,982; 5,702,701; 5,753,222; 5,852,054; 5,869,042; 5,882,641; 5,882,915; 5,906,818; 5,916,029; 5,919,447; 5,922,603; 5,972,689; 5,974,734; 5,994,117; 5,998,196; 6,015,553; 6,017,525; 6,030,610; 6,033,659; 6,060,051; and 6,103,228; the disclosures of which patents are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Gravely et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,881 disclose a mixed complementary culture of bacteria and fungi that is used to degrade pectin and cellulose components of tobacco materials. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of different microorganisms for a different purpose.
Papavizas in U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,161 discloses a strain of the fungus
Trichoderma viride
that is an effective biocontrol agent for fusarium wilt of chrysanthemum. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of a different microorganism.
Hoitinik in U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,131 discloses a process for production of a disease-suppressive compost and a microorganism culture for use therein. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of different microorganisms for a different purpose.
Lewis et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,512 disclose a method for preparing pellets containing living biocontrol fungi and nutrients. The invention is limited in that it teaches a process that involves use of different microorganisms.
Ricard in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,669 discloses a method of using immunizing commensals to control soil-borne pathogens. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of different microorganisms.
Chet et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,342 disclose a novel isolate of Trichoderma and it use. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of a different microorganism.
Marois et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,147 disclose a method for preparing pellets containing living biocontrol fungi. The invention is limited in that it teaches a process that involves use of different microorganisms.
Chet et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,021 disclose antifungal compositions containing Trichoderma active against Fusarium. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of a different microorganism.
Marois et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,530 disclose a method for preparing pellets containing living biocontrol fungi. The invention is limited in that it teaches a process that involves use of different microorganisms.
McCabe et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,600 disclose a biological inoculant for corn. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of different microorganisms.
Handelsman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,738 disclose a new microorganism culture and a method for biological control of damping off and root rot. The invention is limited in that it teaches a process that involves use of a different microorganism,
Bacillus cereus.
Chet et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,944 disclose a novel isolate of Trichoderma and fungicidal compositions containing it. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of a different microorganism.
Muir in U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,229 discloses a soil and foliar supplement. The invention is limited in that it teaches use of different microorganisms.
Pusey in U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,239 discloses a biological control agent for fru
Hunter Robert M.
Lankford , Jr. Leon B.
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