Methods and compositions for improving plant health and protection

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for increasing growth characteristics of a plant, increasing nutrient use efficiency of a plant, or improving the ability of a plant to overcome biotic or abiotic stress, comprising applying to a plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or to soil, hydroponic solution, or growth medium in which a target plant is growing, a composition comprising mixed-linkage beta-1,3 / beta-1,4 glucan (MLG).

Description

[0001] Priority Claim

[0002] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(d) of European Patent Application No. EP 20382671.4, filed July 27, 2020, European Patent Application No. EP 20382893.4, filed October 9, 2020, and European Patent Application No. EP 20383070.8, filed December 9, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for increasing a characteristic of a plant, increasing nutrient use efficiency of a plant, or improving the ability of a plant to overcome a biotic or abiotic stress, comprising applying to the plant and / or a part thereof and / or a growth medium a composition comprising mixed-linkage beta-1,3 / beta-1,4 glucan (MLG). BACKGROUND

[0005] Plants have evolved a sophisticated immune system consisting of several defense layers. One of these layers is called Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and is based on the recognition of Damage / Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMP / MAMP) by plasma membrane-resident Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs). The PTI response feeds into a protein kinase signaling cascade ending in a process of gene reprogramming that can ultimately allow for plant surveillance against pathogen / pest attack. The significance of PTI is well-illustrated by the fact that immune responses and disease resistance to pathogens are compromised in plants that are deficient in PRRs that perceive DAMP / MAMPs. Examples of MAMPs that induce PTI in plants are flagellin and peptidoglycan of true bacteria, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria, or glucans, chitins, mannans, and proteins derived from fungal cell walls.

[0006] Glucans represent a group of polysaccharides that are widely distributed in the extracellular layers of numerous phylogenetic groups spanning the tree of life. These include a wide variety of structures, primarily with beta-linkages, although alpha-linked glucans also occur in many species. Mixed linkage glucans [MLG; beta-1,3 / 1,4-glucan; (1,3; 1,4)-beta-D-glucan] consist of unbranched and unsubstituted chains of beta-1,4-glucosyl residues interrupted by beta-1,3-linkages. MLG is widely distributed as a matrix polysaccharide in the cell walls of Poaceae, but has also been reported in other groups, for example in Equisetum spp. and other vascular plants outside of Poaceae, as well as in the cell walls of bryophytes and algae, lichen-forming ascomycete symbionts and fungi. Beta-glucans are well known modulators of the immune system in mammals, but little is known about their role in plants.

[0007] There is a socio-economic pressure to provide alternatives that replace or reduce the use of agrochemicals in agriculture by focusing on the development of natural products for more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings in the art by providing new compositions and methods for use in agriculture that are more environmentally friendly. SUMMARY

[0009] The joint products and methods, which are intended to be exemplary and illustrative, rather than limiting in scope, describe and illustrate the following embodiments and aspects of the invention.

[0010] The present disclosure has application in the field of agronomy. One embodiment provides methods and compositions for increasing growth characteristics of a plant, comprising applying to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to a medium in which the plant and / or parts thereof are growing a composition comprising MLG.

[0011] Another embodiment provides increasing nutrient use efficiency of a plant, comprising applying to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to a medium in which the plant and / or parts thereof are growing a composition comprising MLG.

[0012] Yet another embodiment provides increasing biotic and / or abiotic stress tolerance or resistance in a plant and / or parts thereof, comprising applying to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to a medium in which the plant and / or parts thereof are growing a composition comprising MLG.

[0013] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can further comprise a surfactant, a humectant, an adjuvant, an antioxidant, a preservative, a plant macronutrient, a plant micronutrient, a plant growth regulator, a pesticide, a fungicide, an antiviral, an antibacterial, and / or a herbicide.

[0014] These and other aspects of the application are set forth in more detail in the description of the application below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 shows MLG triggers cytosolic calcium elevation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

[0017] Figure 2 A bacterial crop protection assay in tomato plants treated with MLG43 is shown.

[0018] Figure 3 A B. cinerea crop protection assay in pepper plants treated with MLG43 is shown.

[0019] Figure 4 A second B. cinerea crop protection assay in pepper plants treated with MLG43 is shown.

[0020] Figure 5 An Oomycete crop protection assay in Arabidopsis plants treated with MLG43 is shown.

[0021] Figure 6 A Z. tritici crop protection assay in wheat plants treated with MLG43 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present application will now be described by reference to the following drawings and examples in which embodiments of the application are shown. This description is not intended to be a detailed catalog of all the different ways in which the application can be implemented, or all the features that can be added to the application. For example, features illustrated with respect to one embodiment can be incorporated into other embodiments, and features illustrated with respect to a particular embodiment can be deleted from that embodiment. Therefore, the following description is not meant to be taken in a limiting sense but is to be taken in a sense indicating the scope of the present application. The present application contemplates that in some embodiments, any feature or combination of features set forth in this disclosure can be excluded or omitted from the application.

[0024] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in the description of the application herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0025] All publications, patent applications, patents and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties for the teachings relevant to the sentence and / or paragraph in which the reference is presented.

[0026] Unless otherwise stated, it is specifically intended that the various features of the application described herein can be used in any combination. Moreover, the present application also contemplates that in some embodiments, any feature or combination of features set forth in this disclosure can be excluded or omitted from the application. To illustrate, if the specification states that a composition comprises components A, B, and C, it is specifically intended that any of A, B, or C, or a combination thereof, can be omitted and disclaimed from the application, individually or in any combination.

[0027] The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if the range of values is 10-15, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also specifically included. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.

[0028] As used in the description of the application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0029] Further, "and / or" where used herein is used to mean either or both, as well as one or more, when applied to any combination of the associated items, and vice versa.

[0030] As used herein, the term "about," when used in reference to a measurable value such as an amount or concentration, is meant to encompass variations that are ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or even ±0.1% of the specified value, as well as the specified value. For example, "about X" (where X is a measurable value) is meant to include X, as well as ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or even ±0.1% of X. Ranges provided herein for a measurable value can include any other range and / or individual value therein.

[0031] As used herein, the phrases "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, the phrase "between about X and Y" means "between about X and about Y," and the phrase "from about X to Y" means "from about X to about Y."

[0032] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are expressly defined as open terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

[0033] As used herein, the transitional phrase "consisting essentially of" means that the scope of a claim is to be interpreted as covering the specified materials or steps recited in that claim, as well as those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed application. Thus, the term "consisting essentially of' when used in the claims of this application is not intended to be construed as equivalent to "comprising."

[0034] As used herein, the terms "increase" and "enhance" (and grammatical variations thereof) describe an elevation of at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500% or more, compared to a control.

[0035] As used herein, the terms "reduce," "decrease," and "diminish" (and grammatical variations thereof) describe a decrease of, e.g., at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 35%, 50%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%, compared to a control. In particular embodiments, the reduction can result in no or substantially no (i.e., an insignificant amount, e.g., less than about 10% or even 5%) detectable activity or amount.

[0036] As used herein, "plant" can be, but is not limited to, any monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, and any annual and perennial dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants. Exemplary plants include, but are not limited to, those in the following genera: Glycine, Vitis, Asparagus, Populus, Pennisetum, Lolium, Oryza, Zea, Avena, Hordeum, Secale, Triticum, Helianthus, Gossypium, Medicago, Pisum, Acer, Actinidia, Abelmoschus, Agropyron, Allium, Amaranthus, Apium, Arachis, Asparagus, Beta, Brassica, Camellia, Canna, Capsicum, Carex, Carica papaya, Carya, Castanea, Cinnamomum, Citrullus, Citrus, Cocos, Coffea, Colocasia, Cola, Coriandrum, Corylus, Crataegus, Crocus, Cucurbita, Cucumis, Cynara, Daucus, Desmodium, Dimocarpus, Dioscorea, Diospyros, Echinochloa, Elaeis, Eleusine, Eriobotrya, Eugenia, Fagopyrum, Fagus, Ficus, Fortunella, Fragaria, Ginkgo, Hemerocallis, Hibiscus, Ipomoea, Juglans, Lactuca, Lagerstroemia, Lamiun, Lavandula, Lens, Leucaena, Lilium, Linum, Litchi, Luffa, Malus, Manihot, Mangifera, Medicago, Mentha, Mimusops, Morus, Musa, Nelumbo, Nicotiana, Olea, Ornithopus, Oryza, Osmanthus, Papaver, Persea, Petunia, Phaseolus, Phoenix, Pistacia, Pittosporum, Plectranthus, Prunus, Punica, Pyrus, Quercus, Raphanus, Rheum, Ricinus, Rosa, Rubus, Runex, Saccharum, Salix, Sambucus, Scadoxus, Senecio, Sesamum, Setaria, Sorghum, Spinacia, Syzygium, Theobroma, Tilia, Triticum, Vaccinium, Vicia, Vitis, and Ziziphus.Lathyrus, Lens, Linum, Litchi, Lotus, Lupinus, Luzula, Malus, Malpighia, Mammea, Mangifera, Manihot, Manilkara, Medicago, Melilotus, Mentha, Miscanthus, Musa, Nicotiana, Olea, Opuntia, Ornithopus, Panicum, Passiflora, Persea, Phaseolus, Pinus, Pistacia, Pisum, Poa, Prosopis, Prunus, Quercus, Raphanus, Rheum, Ribe, Rubus, Sambucus, Secale, Sesamum, Sinapis, Solanum, Sorghum, Spinacia, Tamarindus, Theobroma, Trifolium, Tropaeolum, Vaccinium, Vigna, Vitis, Zizania, or Ziziphus, Sorghum, Saccharum, and Lycopersicum, or Liliatae. In some embodiments, the plant or part thereof is from the genus Glycine, Vitis, Asparagus, Populus, Pennisetum, Lolium, Oryza, Zea, Avena, Hordeum, Secale, Triticum, Sorghum, Saccharum, and Lycopersicum, or Liliaceae.

[0037] As used herein, "parts thereof include, but are not limited to: plant reproductive tissues (e.g., petals, sepals, stamens, pistils, receptacles, anthers, pollen, flowers, fruits, flower buds, ovules, seeds, embryos, nuts, grains, bulbs, ears, cobs, and husks); plant vegetative tissues (e.g., petioles, stems, roots, root hairs, root tips, pith, coleoptiles, stalks, shoots, shoots, branches, bark, apical meristems, axillary buds, cotyledons, hypocotyls, and leaves); plant vascular tissues (e.g., phloem and xylem); specialized plant cells, such as epidermal cells, parenchymal cells, collenchymal cells, sclerenchymal cells, stomata, guard cells, cuticle, mesophyll cells; callus tissue; and cuttings. It also includes plant cells (intact plant cells included in plants and / or plant parts), plant protoplasts, plant tissues, plant organs, plant cell tissue cultures, plant callus tissue, plant clumps, and the like.

[0038] As used herein, "growth medium" includes, but is not limited to: soil, synthetic growth medium, and / or aqueous solutions (e.g., hydroponic solutions) in which a plant is planted. The growth medium can be treated / contacted with a composition comprising an MLG before and / or after sowing seedlings or seeds, which includes spraying or irrigating the growth medium with a composition comprising an MLG. For example, a composition comprising an MLG formulated as a liquid or solid formulation can be applied to the soil surrounding a seedling before, during, and / or after sowing the seedling. In some aspects, both the growth medium and the plant or plant part planted or sown therein can be treated / contacted with a composition comprising an MLG.

[0039] As used herein, "growth characteristic" refers to any plant trait associated with growth, such as, for example, biomass, root mass, yield, ear size / weight, fruit yield, fruit quality, fruit size, seed production, leaf tissue weight, nodule number, nodule mass, nodule activity, seed head number, tiller number, flower number, tuber number, tuber mass, bulb mass, seed number, total seed mass, leaf emergence rate, emerged tiller rate, emergence rate, or any combination thereof. Thus, in some aspects, increased growth characteristics can include, but are not limited to: increased fruit production, increased ear production, increased fruit quality, increased root mass, and / or biomass, as compared to control plants and / or parts thereof and / or growth medium in which a composition comprising an MLG is not applied.

[0040] "fruit quality" refers to typical fruit quality characteristics, such as appearance: fruit size, diameter (e.g., inches, centimeters), and / or weight (g). Other fruit quality characteristics can include, but are not limited to, color (e.g., lycopene content in tomatoes), taste (sweet, sour, bitter, etc.), and / or nutrient and / or nutrient content (e.g., sugar content (Brix value), protein, lipid, vitamins, and / or minerals, etc.).

[0041] As used herein, "nutrient use efficiency" refers to the ability of a plant to utilize available nutrients. In some embodiments, "nutrient use efficiency" can be defined in terms of "total nutrient uptake (nutrient concentration in plant tissue x total biomass)" and / or "yield per unit of applied nutrient."

[0042] As used herein, the term "abiotic stress" refers to an external, non-living factor that can cause a deleterious effect on a plant. Thus, as used herein, abiotic stress includes, but is not limited to, low temperature (which results in freezing, chilling), heat or high temperature, drought, high light intensity, low light intensity, salinity, flooding (excess water / waterlogging), ozone, and / or combinations thereof. Parameters for abiotic stress factors are species-specific, and even cultivar-specific, and thus vary widely depending on the species / cultivar exposed to the abiotic stress. Thus, while one species can be severely affected by high temperatures of 23°C, another species can not be affected until at least 30°C, and so on. Temperatures in excess of 30°C result in a sharp decline in yield in most plants. This is attributed to a decrease in photosynthesis starting at about 20-25°C, and increased carbohydrate requirements of crops growing at higher temperatures. The critical temperature is not absolute, but varies depending on factors such as the plant's adaptation to the prevailing environmental conditions. In addition, since most plants are exposed to multiple abiotic stresses at the same time, the interaction between stresses influences the plant's response. Thus, the specific parameters for high / low temperature, light intensity, drought, etc. that affect plant productivity will vary with the species, cultivar, degree of environmental adaptation, and exposure to combinations of environmental conditions.

[0043] The inventors of the present application have discovered that treating a plant and / or a part thereof and / or a growth medium used for growing a plant with a composition comprising an effective amount / ratio of MLG can increase growth characteristics, nutrient use efficiency, and / or abiotic and / or biotic stress tolerance / resistance of the plant and / or a part thereof.

[0044] In some embodiments, the composition can comprise a single MLG or a mixture of MLGs having a degree of polymerization (DP) in the range of about DP3 to about DP>100. Thus, in some embodiments, the compositions of the present application can comprise MLGs having DP3 (also referred to herein as "MLG43"), and / or DP4, and / or DP5, and / or DP6, and / or DP7, and / or DP8, and / or DP9, and / or DP10, and / or DP11, and / or DP12, and / or DP13, and / or DP14, and / or DP15, and / or DP16, and / or DP17, and / or DP18, and / or DP20, and / or DP21, and / or DP22, and / or DP23, and / or DP24, and / or DP25, and / or DP26, and / or DP27, and / or DP28, and / or DP29, and / or DP30, and / or DP40, and / or DP50, and / or DP60, and / or DP70, and / or DP80, and / or DP90, and / or DP100, and / or DP>100, and any range or value therein.In some embodiments, the composition can comprise a mixture of MLG having a DP of about DP3 to about DP6, about DP3 to about DP7, about DP3 to about DP8, about DP3 to about DP9, about DP3 to about DP10, about DP3 to about DP15, about DP3 to about DP20, about DP3 to about DP30, about DP3 to about DP40, about DP3 to about DP50, about DP3 to about DP60, about DP3 to about DP70, about DP3 to about DP80, about DP3 to about DP90, about DP3 to about DP100, about DP5 to about DP8, about DP5 to about DP9, about DP5 to about DP10, about DP5 to about DP15, about DP5 to about DP20, about DP5 to about DP50, about DP5 to about DP40, about DP5 to about DP50, about DP5 to about DP60, about DP5 to about DP70, about DP5 to about DP80, about DP5 to about DP90, about DP5 to about DP100, about DP10 to about DP15, about DP10 to about DP20, about DP10 to about DP30, about DP10 to about DP40, about DP10 to about DP50, about DP10 to about DP60, about DP10 to about DP70, about DP10 to about DP80, about DP10 to about DP90, about DP10 to about DP100, about DP20 to about DP30, about DP20 to about DP40, about DP120 to about DP50, about DP20 to about DP60, about DP20 to about DP70, about DP20 to about DP80, about DP20 to about DP90, about DP20 to about DP100, DP40 to about DP50, about DP40 to about DP60, about DP40 to about DP70, about DP40 to about DP80, about DP40 to about DP90, about DP40 to about DP100, DP50 to about DP70, about DP50 to about DP80, about DP50 to about DP90, about DP50 to about DP100, and any range or value therein.

[0045] In some embodiments, the composition can comprise MLG (which comprises a single degree of polymerization or a mixture of degrees of polymerization) in an amount ranging from about 0.1 mg per liter (L) to about 100 g per liter of the composition.Thus, in some embodiments, the compositions of the present application can comprise MLG in the range of about 0.1 mg / L to about 1 mg / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 10 mg / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 100 mg / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 1 g / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 10 g / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 100 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 1 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 5 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 1 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 5 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 5 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 20 g / L to about 30 g / L, or about 20 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 20 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 20 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 30 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 30 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 30 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 40 g / L to about 50 g / L, or about 40 g / L to about 100 g / L of the composition, or any value or range therein.

[0046] In some embodiments, an effective amount of MLG is an amount sufficient to increase a growth characteristic of a plant and / or a part thereof, increase nutrient use efficiency in a plant and / or a part thereof, and / or increase abiotic stress and / or biotic stress tolerance / resistance of a plant and / or a part thereof. In some embodiments, an effective amount of MLG in a composition can be from about 0.1 mg per liter to about 100 g per liter of the composition.In some embodiments, the effective amount of MLG in the composition can be about 0.1 mg / L to about 1 mg / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 10 mg / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 100 mg / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 1 g / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 10 g / L, about 0.1 mg / L to about 100 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 1 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 5 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 0.1 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 1 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 5 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 0.5 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 5 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 1 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 10 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 5 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 15 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 10 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 20 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 30 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 15 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 20 g / L to about 30 g / L, or about 20 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 20 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 20 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 30 g / L to about 40 g / L, about 30 g / L to about 50 g / L, about 30 g / L to about 100 g / L, about 40 g / L to about 50 g / L, or about 40 g / L to about 100 g / L of the composition, or any value or range therein.

[0047] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can further comprise a peptide, a protein, a sugar, and / or a carbohydrate. In some embodiments, the MLG composition can comprise a peptide and / or a protein in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% w / w of the extract. In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG comprises a peptide and / or a protein in an amount of about 0.1% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 3%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 7%, about 0.5% to about 1%, about 0.5% to about 3%, about 0.5% to about 5%, about 0.5% to about 7%, about 0.5 to about 10%, about 1% to about 3%, about 1% to about 5%, about 1% to about 7%, about 1% to about 10%, about 3% to about 5%, about 3% to about 7%, about 3% to about 10%, about 5% to about 7%, about 5% to about 10%, or about 7% to about 10%, or any range or value therein, of the composition. Thus, in some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can comprise a peptide and / or a protein in an amount of about 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, or 10% w / w of the composition, or any range or value therein.

[0048] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can comprise other sugars and / or carbohydrates in an amount of about 1% to about 35% w / w of the extract. In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can comprise other sugars and / or carbohydrates in an amount of about 1% to about 5%, about 1% to about 10%, about 1% to about 15%, about 1% to about 20%, about 1% to about 25%, about 1% to about 30%, about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 35%, about 10% to about 15%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 25%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 35%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 25%, about 15% to about 30%, about 15% to about 35%, about 20% to about 25%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 35%, about 25% to about 30%, about 25% to about 35%, or about 30% to about 35% w / w of the extract, or any value or range therein. Thus, in some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can comprise additional sugars and / or carbohydrates in an amount of about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, or 35% w / w of the extract, or any range or value therein.

[0049] In some embodiments, the sugars and / or carbohydrates that can be included in the composition comprising MLG can include, but are not limited to, glucose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, other glucan oligosaccharides, glucose-derived lowly branched polysaccharides, glycogen, mannan oligosaccharides, mannose-derived lowly branched polysaccharides, galactan, galactomannan, arabinan, and / or xylan.

[0050] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can further comprise additional components including, but not limited to, surfactants, humectants, adjuvants, antioxidants, preservatives, plant macronutrients, plant micronutrients, plant growth regulators, plant biostimulants, pesticides, fungicides, antivirals, antibacterials, herbicides, or any combination thereof.

[0051] Example surfactants can include, but are not limited to, alkali, alkaline earth, and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, alkyl aryl sulfonates, sodium dodecyl sulfate, alkyl sulfate, alkyl sulfonate, fatty alcohol sulfate, sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, sulfonated condensation products of naphthalene and formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or naphthalenesulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, alkylphenyl polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, tristearylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkyl aryl polyether alcohols, alcohol and fatty alcohol / ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol, polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters, sulfited lignin spent liquor, and / or methyl cellulose.

[0052] In some embodiments, a surfactant can be present in a composition comprising MLG in an amount of about 10% to about 40% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, a surfactant can be present in a composition comprising MLG in an amount of about 10% to about 15%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 25%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 35%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 25%, about 15% to about 30%, about 15% to about 35%, about 15% to about 40%, about 20% to about 25%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 35%, about 20% to about 40%, about 25% to about 30%, about 25% to about 35%, about 25% to about 40%, about 30% to about 35%, about 30% to about 40%, about 35% to about 40% w / w, or any range or value therein. Thus, in some embodiments, a surfactant can be present in a composition comprising MLG in an amount of about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40% w / w, or any range or value therein.

[0053] Example humectants can include, but are not limited to, glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, triacetin, sodium lactate, urea formaldehyde, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and / or fatty acids.

[0054] Example antioxidants can include, but are not limited to, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, and / or butylated hydroxytoluene.

[0055] Example preservatives can include, but are not limited to, sorbic acid, sodium sorbate, sorbate, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, benzoate, hydroxybenzoate and derivatives, sulfur dioxide and sulfites, nitrites, nitrates, lactic acid, propionic acid and sodium propionate, tocopherols, botanical extracts, hops, salt, sugar, vinegar, alcohol (e.g., methanol and ethanol), diatomaceous earth and castor oil, citric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, phenolic derivatives (butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and propyl gallate), gallic acid, sodium gallate, sulfur dioxide, sulfites, tocopherols, and / or methylchloroisothiazolinone, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trihydroxyethyl-s-triazine (HTHT), 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (CMIT), 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MIT), zinc pyrithione (ZPT), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol), formaldehyde, 1,3-dihydroxymethyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDMH), 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), and / or poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB).

[0056] In some embodiments, the preservative can be present in the composition comprising MLG in an amount ranging from about 0.001% to about 5% w / w, or any range or value therein. In some embodiments, the composition can comprise a preservative in an amount ranging from about 0.001% to about 0.1%, about 0.001% to about 0.5%, about 0.001% to about 1%, about 0.001% to about 2%, about 0.001% to about 3%, about 0.001% to about 4%, about 0.01% to about 0.1%, about 0.01% to about 0.5%, about 0.01% to about 1%, about 0.01% to about 2%, about 0.01% to about 3%, about 0.01% to about 4%, about 0.01% to about 5%, about 0.05% to about 0.1%, about 0.05% to about 0.5%, about 0.05% to about 1%, about 0.05% to about 2%, about 0.05% to about 3%, about 0.05% to about 4%, about 0.05% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, about 0.1% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 2%, about 0.1% to about 3%, about 0.1% to about 4%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.5% to about 1%, about 0.5% to about 2%, about 0.5% to about 3%, about 0.5% to about 4%, about 0.5% to about 5%, about 1% to about 2%, about 1% to about 3%, about 1% to about 4%, about 1% to about 5%, about 2% to about 3%, about 2% to about 4%, about 4% to about 5%, about 3% to about 4%, about 3% to about 5%, about 4% to about 5% w / w, or any range or value therein, of the composition. Thus, in some embodiments, the preservative can be present in the composition comprising MLG in an amount of about 0.001%, 0.002%, 0.003%, 0.004%, 0.005%, 0.006%, 0.007%, 0.008%, 0.009%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.07%, 0.08%, 0.09%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5% w / w, or any range or value therein, of the composition.

[0057] Example plant macronutrients include, but are not limited to, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and / or sulfur.

[0058] Example plant micronutrients can include, but are not limited to, iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper, zinc, chlorine, and / or cobalt.

[0059] Example plant growth regulators include, but are not limited to, auxins (including, but not limited to, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and / or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and / or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 3-IAA)), cytokinins, abscisic acid, gibberellins, ethylene, salicylic acid, jasmonates, brassinosteroids (e.g., brassinolide), or any combination thereof.

[0060] Example insecticides include, but are not limited to, malathion, parathion, methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, phosmet, dimethoate, methidathion, fenvalerate, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyfluthrin, zeta-cypermethrin, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, dehyd ro-ryanodol, 9,21-didehyd ro-ryanodol, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, and / or cyantraniliprole.

[0061] Example fungicides include, but are not limited to, prothioconazole, trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, propiconazole, and / or pyraclostrobin.

[0062] Example antibacterial agents (bactericides) include, but are not limited to, methylisothiazolinone, chloromethylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone, octylisothiazolinone, dichlorooctylisothiazolinone, and / or butylbenzisothiazolinone.

[0063] Example herbicides can include, but are not limited to, glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, atrazine, S-metolachlor, and / or 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid.

[0064] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can further comprise an antifoam agent. Any antifoam agent used for use with agricultural and / or food products can be used. Exemplary antifoam agents include, but are not limited to, long chain unsaturated fatty acids including, but not limited to, C12 to C14, C18:1, and C18:2 unsaturated fatty acids; and / or synthetic polysiloxanes (silicones) including, but not limited to, polydimethylsiloxanes and / or hydrophobic silicon dioxide. In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can comprise an amount of antifoam agent ranging from about 0.0001% to about 0.05% w / w of the composition, or any range or value therein. Thus, in some embodiments, the antifoam agent can be present in the composition in an amount of about 0.0001%, 0.0002%, 0.0003%, 0.0004%, 0.0005%, 0.0006%, 0.0007%, 0.0008%, 0.0009%, 0.001%, 0.002%, 0.003%, 0.004%, 0.005%, 0.006%, 0.007%, 0.008%, 0.009%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, or 0.05% w / w of the composition, or any range or value therein.

[0065] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG can further comprise a biocide. Any biocide used for use with agricultural and / or food products can be used. When included in a composition comprising MLG, the biocide can be present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 g L -1 to about 20 g L -1 of the composition, or any range or value therein. Thus, in some embodiments, the biocide can be present in the composition in an amount of about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 g per liter of the composition, or any range or value therein.

[0066] Compositions comprising MLG can be applied to plants and / or parts thereof. In some embodiments, compositions comprising MLG can be atomized and sprayed on plants and / or parts thereof. Dabbing treatments can also be used, for example, wettable powders, emulsions, or flowable agents comprising MLG can be applied to plants and / or parts thereof, with or without the addition of water. In other embodiments, dipping treatments can be used, in which plants and / or parts thereof are submerged in a composition comprising MLG. In some embodiments, compositions comprising MLG can be used in film-coating treatments and / or pellet-coating treatments for plants and / or parts thereof, for example, seeds and / or bulbs.

[0067] Compositions comprising MLG can be applied as soil treatments in solid or liquid form. Thus, in some embodiments, the compositions can be applied by spraying onto the soil, soil incorporation, and / or chemical liquid drenching into the soil (irrigation of chemical liquids, soil injection, and drip of chemical liquids). Methods for applying compositions comprising MLG during soil treatment include, but are not limited to, planting holes, furrows, around planting holes, around furrows, entire cultivated surface, between soil and plants, between roots, under tree trunks, main furrows, growth boxes, seedling growth trays, and seedbeds. Soil treatments can be implemented at the time of sowing, at the time of sowing, immediately after sowing, germination, and / or the growth period after planting. Alternatively, irrigation liquids can be mixed with compositions comprising MLG in advance, for example, for treatment, by suitable irrigation methods, including the irrigation methods mentioned above, and any other methods, for example, methods and compositions for improving plant health and protection.

[0068] A composition comprising an MLG can be applied to a plant and / or plant parts thereof, and / or to a medium in which a plant is growing, to increase, for example, growth characteristics, nutrient use efficiency, disease tolerance (biotic stress, e.g., tolerance to fungal, bacterial, and / or viral diseases), and / or to increase abiotic stress tolerance. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the present application provides a method for increasing growth characteristics of a plant and / or parts thereof, the method comprising applying to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to a growth medium a composition comprising an effective amount of an MLG, thereby increasing growth characteristics of the plant and / or parts thereof as compared to a control plant and / or parts thereof (e.g., a plant and / or parts thereof to which the composition of the present application has not been applied). In some embodiments, the method comprises applying a composition comprising an MLG to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to a growth medium in which the plant and / or parts thereof are present at least once (e.g., about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and / or 12 or more times; e.g., 1 to about 2 times, 1 to about 3 times, 1 to about 4 times, 1 to about 5 times, 1 to about 6 times, 1 to about 7 times, 1 to about 8 times, 1 to about 9 times, 1 to about 10 times, 1 to about 11 times, or 1 to about 12 times, or any range or value therein). In some embodiments, the method comprises applying the composition at least twice (e.g., about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more times; e.g., about 2 to about 3 times, about 2 to about 4 times, about 2 to about 5 times, about 2 to about 6 times, about 2 to about 7 times, about 2 to about 8 times, about 2 to about 9 times, about 2 to about 10 times, about 2 to about 11 times, or about 2 to about 12 times, or any range or value therein).

[0069] In some embodiments, the present application provides a method for increasing disease tolerance of a plant and / or parts thereof, the method comprising applying to the plant and / or plant parts thereof and / or to a growth medium a composition comprising an effective amount of an MLG, thereby increasing disease tolerance of the plant and / or parts thereof as compared to a control plant and / or parts thereof (e.g., a plant and / or parts thereof to which a composition comprising an MLG has not been applied). In some embodiments, the method comprises applying the composition at least once (e.g., about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more times). In some embodiments, the method comprises applying the composition at least twice (e.g., about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more times).

[0070] In some embodiments, when the composition comprising MLG is applied to the plant and / or its parts and / or to the growth medium at least twice, the time between applications can vary. Thus, for example, the next application of the composition comprising MLG can be at any time within about 1 day to about six months after the previous application. Thus, for example, the next application can be implemented at a time that is about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 days, or about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 weeks, or any range or value therein, after the previous application.

[0071] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG applied to the plant and / or its parts and / or to the growth medium can increase disease tolerance or resistance to a viral pathogen, including but not limited to a virus from the following classes: Caulimoviridae, Potyviridae, Sequiviridae, Rheoviridae, Capillovirus, Geminiviridae, Bromoviridae, Closteroviridae, Comoviridae, Tombusviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Partitiviridae, Carlavirus, Enamovirus, Furovirus, Hordeivirus, Idaeovirus, Luteovirus, Marafivirus, Potexvirus, Sobemovirus, Tenuivirus, Tobamovirus, Tobravirus, Trichovirus, Tymovirus, and / or Umbravirus.

[0072] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG applied to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to the growth medium can increase resistance to viruses including, but not limited to, Turnip mosaic virus, Papaya ringspot virus, Pea leaf roll virus, Bean pod mottle virus, Lettuce mosaic virus, Maize mosaic virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, Soybean mosaic virus, African cassava mosaic virus, Tomato mosaic virus, Pepino mosaic virus, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, Squash leaf curl virus, Plum pox virus, Tomato bushy stunt virus, Tomato spotted wilt virus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Rice grassy stunt virus, Rice tungro bacilliform virus, Rice tungro spherical virus, Rice yellow mottle virus, Cucumber mosaic virus, Brome mosaic virus, Wheat yellow mosaic virus, Barley yellow dwarf virus, Sugarcane mosaic virus, Beet yellow virus, Lettuce yellow virus, Maize dwarf mosaic virus, Maize streak virus, Peanut clump virus, Citrus tristeza virus, Potato leafroll virus, Potato virus X, Potato virus Y, Sweet potato feathery mottle virus, Melon chlorotic spot virus, Maize white line mosaic virus, Maize chlorotic mottle virus, Banana bunchy top virus, Cocoa swollen shoot virus, New Delhi tomato leaf curl virus, Banana streak virus, and / or Sweet potato corky scion virus.

[0073] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG applied to a plant and / or a part thereof and / or to a growth medium can increase resistance to fungal pathogens including, but not limited to, fungal / oomycete pathogens from the following families: Physodermataceae, Synchytriaceae, Olpidiaceae, Choanephoraceae, Gilbertellaceae, Mucoraceae, Dipodascaceae, Eremotheciaceae, Taphrinaceae, Botryosphaeriaceae, Capnodiaceae, Phaeosphaeriaceae, Leptosphaeriaceae, Cucurbitariaceae, Didymellaceae, Davidiellaceae, Mycosphaerellaceae, Schizothyriaceae, Dothideaceae, Dothioraceae, Lahmiaceae, Elsinoaceae, Lophiostomataceae, Pleosporaceae, Venturiaceae, Trichocomaceae, Erysiphaceae, Cyttariaceae, Hemiphacidiaceae, Hyaloscyphaceae, Phacidiaceae, Sclerotiniaceae, Ascodichaenaceae, Medeolariaceae, Rhytismataceae, Meliolaceae, Caloscyphaceae, Sarcosomataceae, Cryphonectriaceae, Diaporthaceae, Gnomoniaceae, Valsaceae, Glomerellaceae,Plectosphaerellaceae, Bionectriaceae, Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreaceae, Nectriaceae, Magnaporthaceae, Pyriculariaceae, Ceratocystideae, Ophiostomataceae, Phyllachoraceae, Chaetomiaceae, Amphisphaeriaceae, Diatrypaceae, Xylariaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Marasmiaceae, Mycenaceae, Schizophyllaceae, Typhulaceae, Thelephoraceae, Atheliaceae, Atheliaceae, Stereaceae, Echinodontiaceae, Corticiaceae, Ganodermataceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Cystofilobasidiaceae, Helicobasidiaceae, Helicobasidiaceae, Melampsoraceae, Phakopsoraceae, Pucciniaceae, Tilletiaceae, Entylomataceae, Ustilaginaceae, Leptolegniaceae, and / or Peronosporaceae.

[0074] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG applied to a plant and / or a part thereof and / or to a growth medium can increase resistance to fungal pathogens including, but not limited to: Physoderma alfalfa, Physoderma maydis, Synchytrium endobioticum, Olpidium brassicae, Choanephoracucurbitarum, Mucor circinelloides, Rhizopus stolonifera, Geotrichum candidum, Taphrina caerulescens, Taphrina deformans, Taphrina populina, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia mutila, Dothiorella sarmentorum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phyllosticta ampelicida, Phyllosticta citricarpa, Stenocarpella maydis, Cladosporium allii-cepae, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Acrodontium simplex, Cercospora spp., Cercospora apii, Cercospora beticola, Cercospora brassicicola, Cercospora kikuchii, Corynespora cassiicola, Cercospora zeae-maydis, Cercospora zeina, Dothistroma septosporum, Lecanosticta acicula, Mycocentrospora acerina, Passalora spp.), Pseudocercospora fijiensis, Aureobasidium spp., Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, Parastagonospora nodorum, Diplodia tumefaciens, Alternaria alternate, Bipolaris maydis, Bipolaris oryzae, Bipolaris sacchari, Bipolaris victoriae, Curvularia spp., Leptosphaerulina trifolii, Venturia inaequalis, Aspergillus spp., Aspergillus flavus, Blumeria graminis, Erysiphe spp., Podosphaera leucotricha, Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia spp., Monilinia fructicola, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Amphilogia gyrosa, Cryphonectria parasitica, Diaporthe citri, Diaporthe helianthi, Diaporthephaseolorum, Cytospora leucostoma, Colletotrichum spp.), Colletotrichum coccodes, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum graminicola, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Verticillium albo-atrum, Verticillium dahlia, Claviceps purpurea, Epichloe typhina, Trichoderma viride, Fusarium spp., Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium graminearum, Nectria cinnabarina, Neonectria spp., Gaeumannomyces graminis, Pyricularia grisea, Pyricularia oryzae, Ceratocystis spp., Thielaviopsis basicola, Ophiostoma ulmi, Phyllachora graminis, Cronartium spp., Uromyces graminicola, Tranzschelia spp., Tilletia spp., Ustilago spp., Ustilago maydis, Peronospora spp., Hyalperonospora spp., Albugo spp., Phytophthora spp., Pythium spp., Aphanomyces spp.), Magnaporthe oryzae, Puccinia, Blumeria graminis, Exserohilum turcicum, Mycosphaerella graminicola, Melampsora lini, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, and / or Rhizoctonia solani.

[0075] In some embodiments, the composition comprising MLG applied to a plant and / or a part thereof and / or to a growth medium can increase resistance to bacterial pathogens including, but not limited to, bacterial pathogens from the families Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Microbacteriaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Acetobacteraceae, Comamonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Micrococcaceae, Ralstoniaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Spiroplasmataceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Acholeplasmataceae, Corynebacteriaceae, and / or Streptomycetaceae.In some embodiments, the compositions of the present application applied to plants and / or parts thereof and / or growth media can increase resistance to bacterial pathogens including, but not limited to, bacterial pathogens from the following genera: Erwinia spp., Dickeya spp., Pseudomonas spp., Xanthomonas spp., Agrobacterium spp., Rhizobium spp., Corynebacterium spp., Streptomyces spp., Pantoea spp., Serratia spp., Acetobacter spp., Acidovorax spp., Arthrobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Brenneria spp., Burkholderia spp., Clavibacter spp., Pectobacterium spp., Pantoea spp., Ralstonia spp., Xylella spp., Spiroplasma spp., Phytoplasma spp., and / or Sphingomonas spp.

[0076] In some embodiments, the application of an MLG-containing composition to the plant and / or parts thereof and / or to the growth medium can increase resistance to bacterial pathogens, including but not limited to: *Erwinia amylovora*, *Erwinia carotovora var. chrysanthemi*, *D. dadanti*, and *Pseudomonas tobaccos*. *Pseudomonas tabaci*, *P. angulate*, *P. phaseolicola*, *P. lachrymans*, *P. pisi*, *P. fluorescens*, *P. glycinea*, *P. vesicatoria*, *P. savastanoi*, *P. syringae*, *P. solanacearum*, *Xanthamonas phaseoli*, *X. malvacearum*, *X. oryzae*, *X. translucens*, *X. pruni*, *X. campestris*, *X. vasuclarum*, *Acidovorax* *Agrobacterium tumefaciens*, *Agrobacterium rubi* (= *Rhizobium rubi*), *Agrobacterium rhizogenes* (= *Rhizobium rhizogenes*), and *Agrobacterium vitis* (= *Rhizobium vitis*), *Bacillus pumilus*, *Brenneria alni* (= *Erwinia alni*), *Clavibacter michiganensis*, *Pectobacterium carotovorum*, *Pantoea agglomerans*, and *Ralstonia* Corynebacterium solanacearum, Corynebacterium insidiosum, Corynebacterium sepedonicum, Corynebacterium fimbriatum.fascians), C. flacca, C. michiganense, Streptomyces scabies, S. ipomoeae, Pantoea aglomerans, Serratia marcescens, Streptomyces reticuliscabei, Acetobacter aceti, Spiroplasma citri, Xylella fastidiosa, and / or Sphingomonas melonis.

[0077] As used herein, "disease resistance" or "disease tolerance" are used interchangeably and refer to a reduction in disease symptoms and / or a reduction in growth and reproduction of a disease pathogen in a plant and / or parts thereof. In some embodiments, the percent (%) increase in resistance / tolerance to a disease as compared to a control can range from about 0.1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the percent increase in resistance / tolerance to a disease as compared to a control can be an increase in the range of about 0.1% to about 10%, 0.1% to about 30%, about 0.1% to about 50%, about 0.1% to about 80%, about 0.1% to about 90%, about 0.1% to about 95%, about 1% to about 10%, about 1% to about 20%, about 1% to about 40%, about 1% to about 50%, about 1% to about 75%, about 1% to about 95%, about 1% to about 100%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 40%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about 70%, about 10% to about 80%, about 10% to about 90%, about 10% to about 100%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 75%, about 20% to about 90%, about 20% to about 95%, about 20% to about 100%, about 25% to about 50%, about 50% to about 75%, about 50% to about 95%, about 50% to about 100%, about 75% to about 90%, about 75% to about 100%, about 90% to about 95%, about 90% to about 100%, or any value or range therein. In some embodiments, the % increase in resistance / tolerance to a disease as compared to a control can be about 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17, 5, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45, or 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%, or any value or range therein.

[0078] In some embodiments, methods for increasing abiotic stress tolerance of a plant and / or a part thereof are provided, the methods comprising applying to the plant and / or a part thereof and / or to a growth medium a composition comprising an effective amount of an MLG, thereby increasing abiotic stress tolerance of the plant and / or a part thereof as compared to a control plant and / or a part thereof (e.g., a plant and / or a part thereof to which the composition comprising the MLG has not been applied). In some embodiments, the methods comprise applying the composition at least once (e.g., about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more times, or any range or value therein). In some embodiments, the methods comprise applying the composition at least twice (e.g., about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more times, or any range or value therein).

[0079] In some embodiments, the abiotic stress can include, but is not limited to, drought, salinity (e.g., moderate salinity (EC e = 4-8 dSm -1 ); high salinity (EC e > 8 dSm -1 )), flooding, freezing (e.g., about 0 °C or less), chilling or low temperature (e.g., less than about 10-15 °C), heat or high temperature (e.g., greater than about 40 °C), high light intensity (e.g., greater than about 10,000 foot candles), low light intensity (e.g., less than about 1000 foot candles), and / or ozone, and / or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the abiotic stress is drought. In some embodiments, the abiotic stress is salinity.

[0080] As used herein, "increased tolerance to abiotic stress" or "increased resistance to abiotic stress" are used interchangeably and refer to the ability of a plant and / or its parts and / or growth medium that has been contacted with a composition comprising MLG to better withstand a given abiotic stress than a control plant and / or its parts (i.e., a plant and / or its parts and / or growth medium that has been exposed to the same abiotic stress but has not been contacted with a composition comprising MLG). Increased tolerance to abiotic stress can be measured by using a variety of parameters including, but not limited to, size and number of plants and / or their parts (e.g., number and size of fruits), level or amount of cell division, amount of flower abortion, amount of sunscald damage, crop yield, and the like. Thus, in some embodiments of the application, a plant and / or its parts having increased tolerance to abiotic stress will have, for example, increased fruit / seed number and / or weight compared to a plant and / or its parts exposed to the same stress but not contacted with the composition, where the plant and / or its parts and / or growth medium has been contacted with a composition comprising MLG.

[0081] In some embodiments, the increase in resistance / tolerance to abiotic stress as compared to a control can be an increase in the range of about 0.1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the increase in resistance / tolerance to abiotic stress as compared to a control can be in the range of about 0.1% to about 10%, 0.1% to about 30%, about 0.1% to about 50%, about 0.1% to about 80%, about 0.1% to about 90%, about 0.1% to about 95%, about 1% to about 10%, about 1% to about 20%, about 1% to about 40%, about 1% to about 50%, about 1% to about 75%, about 1% to about 95%, about 1% to about 100%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 40%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about 70%, about 10% to about 80%, about 10% to about 90%, about 10% to about 100%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 75%, about 20% to about 90%, about 20% to about 95%, about 20% to about 100%, about 25% to about 50%, about 50% to about 75%, about 50% to about 95%, about 50% to about 100%, about 75% to about 90%, about 75% to about 100%, about 90% to about 95%, about 90% to about 100%, or any value or range therein. In some embodiments, the percent increase in resistance / tolerance to abiotic stress as compared to a control can be about 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17, 5, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45, or 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%, or any value or range therein.

[0082] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased fruit production as compared to a plant in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied.

[0083] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased inflorescence production compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0084] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased fruit quality when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0085] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased defense / immune related calcium production when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0086] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased defense / immune related gene expression when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0087] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased tolerance to fungi when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0088] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a pepper plant having increased tolerance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white mold) when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0089] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a cucumber plant having increased tolerance to Podosphaera fusca when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0090] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased tolerance to bacteria when treated with a composition comprising MLG.

[0091] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased tolerance to bacterial spot (Pseudomonas syringae) when treated with a composition comprising MLG.

[0092] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining a plant having increased tolerance to plant viruses when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0093] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining such a plant having reduced viral load when compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0094] One embodiment of the disclosure further provides a method for obtaining such a bush squash plant having increased tolerance to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) as compared to a plant wherein a composition comprising MLG is not applied.

[0095] In some embodiments, methods for increasing nutrient use efficiency of a plant and / or a part thereof are provided, the methods comprising applying to a plant and / or a plant part thereof and / or to a growth medium a composition comprising an effective amount of MLG, thereby increasing nutrient use efficiency of the plant and / or a part thereof as compared to a control plant and / or part thereof (e.g., a plant and / or part thereof to which a composition of the invention is not applied). In some embodiments, the methods comprise applying the composition at least once (e.g., about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and / or 12 or more times, or any range or value therein). In some embodiments, the methods comprise applying the composition at least twice (e.g., about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more times, or any range or value therein).

[0096] In some embodiments, methods are provided for obtaining plants having increased fruit production (e.g., about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) as compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased fruit production as compared to plants not contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG, the increase being about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein.

[0097] In some embodiments, methods are provided for obtaining plants having increased inflorescence production (e.g., about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) as compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased inflorescence production as compared to plants not contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG, the increase being about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein.

[0098] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having increased fruit quality (e.g., fruit quality is increased by about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) as compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied (when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied) are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased fruit quality as compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG by about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein.

[0099] One embodiment of the application further provides methods for obtaining plants having increased defense / immune-related calcium production when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied (e.g., about 1-fold to about 100-fold or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150-fold or more, or any range or value therein). Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased defense / immune-related calcium production compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG, the increase being about 1 to about 5-fold, about 1 to about 10-fold, about 1 to about 20-fold, about 5 to about 15-fold, about 5 to about 20-fold, about 5 to about 25-fold, about 5 to about 30-fold, about 5 to about 50-fold, about 10 to about 20-fold, about 10 to about 30-fold, about 10 to about 50-fold, about 10 to about 70-fold, about 15 to about 20-fold, about 15% to about 50-fold, about 20 to about 30-fold, about 20 to about 50-fold, about 20 to about 70-fold, about 40 to about 50-fold, about 40 to about 80-fold, about 40 to about 100-fold, about 50 to about 70-fold, about 50 to about 100-fold, about 70 to about 100-fold, about 80 to about 100-fold, and any range or value therein.

[0100] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having increased expression of defense / immune-related genes (e.g., about 1-fold to about 100-fold or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150-fold or more, or any range or value therein) when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased expression of defense / immune-related genes of about 1 to about 5-fold, about 1 to about 10-fold, about 1 to about 20-fold, about 5 to about 15-fold, about 5 to about 20-fold, about 5 to about 25-fold, about 5 to about 30-fold, about 5 to about 50-fold, about 10 to about 20-fold, about 10 to about 30-fold, about 10 to about 50-fold, about 10 to about 70-fold, about 15 to about 20-fold, about 15 to about 50-fold, about 20 to about 30-fold, about 20 to about 50-fold, about 20 to about 70-fold, about 40 to about 50-fold, about 40 to about 80-fold, about 40 to about 100-fold, about 50 to about 70-fold, about 50 to about 100-fold, about 70 to about 100-fold, about 80 to about 100-fold, and any range or value therein, compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG.

[0101] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having increased tolerance to one or more fungal pathogens (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased tolerance to one or more fungal pathogens of about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein, compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG.

[0102] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining pepper plants having increased tolerance to white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG is not applied (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased tolerance to white mold of about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein, compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG.

[0103] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining a cucumber plant having increased tolerance to Corynespora cassiicola (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) when compared to a plant in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied, are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide a plant having increased tolerance to Corynespora cassiicola of about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein, compared to a plant that has not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG.

[0104] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having increased tolerance to one or more pathogenic bacteria when treated with a composition comprising MLG (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150%, or more, or any range or value therein) are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased tolerance to one or more pathogenic bacteria compared to plants not contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG, the increase being about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein.

[0105] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having increased tolerance to bacterial spot (Pseudomonas syringae) when treated with a composition comprising MLG (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150%, or more, or any range or value therein) are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased tolerance to bacterial spot as compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG, the increase being about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein.

[0106] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having increased tolerance to one or more plant pathogenic viruses (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased tolerance to one or more plant pathogenic viruses of about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein, compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG.

[0107] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining plants having reduced viral load (e.g., reduced by about 5% to about 100%; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100%, or any range or value therein) when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG has not been applied are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having reduced viral load by about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, or about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein, compared to plants that have not been contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG.

[0108] In some embodiments, methods for obtaining bush squash plants having increased tolerance to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) when compared to plants in which a composition comprising MLG is not applied (e.g., an increase of about 5% to about 100% or more; e.g., about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150% or more, or any range or value therein) are provided. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods of the application can provide plants having increased tolerance to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) compared to plants not contacted with a composition of the application comprising MLG, the increase being about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 50%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 50%, 10% to about 70%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 30%, 15% to about 50%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 70%, about 40% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 100%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 75% to about 120%, or about 75% to about 140%, and any range or value therein.

[0109] The application will now be described by reference to the following examples. It will be appreciated that these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the application, but are intended to be illustrative of certain embodiments. Any variations of the methods illustrated that occur to those skilled in the art are intended to fall within the scope of the application. Example

[0110] Example 1. MLG triggers cytosolic calcium elevation in Arabidopsis

[0111] At 8 days old Arabidopsis Col-0 seedlings treated with mixed-linkage glucans (MLG) purified from Equisetum arvense and Hordeum vulgare beta-glucans (Figure 1, panels a, b and c) were AEQ Cellular calcium influx in seedlings measured as relative luminescence units (RLU) over time. Figure 1, panel b: MLG purified from barley beta-glucans; Figure 1, panel c: synthetic MLG. Data represent mean ± σ (n = 8). Figure 1, panel d: schematic representation of the structure of the different MLG oligos used in the calcium assay.

[0112] The results shown in Figure 1, panels a, b and c clearly appear that MLG oligos obtained after enzymatic digestion of beta-glucans from different plant sources (Equisetum arvense and Hordeum vulgare) and with a degree of polymerization (DP) between 3 and 5 are able to trigger Ca 2+ influx. As shown in Figure 1, panel c, MLG oligos with a DP higher than 5 (MLG DP>5) are also active in triggering calcium influx. Differences in signal intensity between similar MLG structures from different natural beta-glucan sources were observed and can be attributed to differences in purity between these sources. Differences in calcium signal intensity between MLG with different DP can reflect differences in biological activity.

[0113] Example 2. MLG43 induces gene expression changes in Arabidopsis

[0114] Twelve days old Arabidopsis seedlings grown on liquid MS medium were treated with 50 mM MLG43 or water (mock) solution for 0 and 30 minutes. Total RNA was purified with RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen) following the manufacturer’s protocol.

[0115] For RNA-seq analysis, samples from three biological replicates were selected for each treatment and processed as previously described (Melida et al., 2018). Incubation with MLG43 modulated the expression of 2062 genes, most of them (1375) being up-regulated as shown in Table 1 (see, end of the examples, pages 52-108). Genes up-regulated by MLG43 were mainly grouped in GO terms related to immune system processes and to response to different stimuli, including biotic and abiotic ones, shown in the attached Table 1.

[0116] Example 3. Tomato plants treated with MLG43 exhibit higher fruit yield and quality

[0117] Tomato plants of the variety Mayoral were sown in a greenhouse on December 15, 2018. Starting one week after transplanting, 0.05 g / l of MLG43 (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) was applied via foliar application at three different rates every three weeks, for a total of 6 applications. Tomato fruits were harvested in 2019 at 6 different time points. Total yield at each harvest was recorded. Fruit quality was evaluated at harvest points 2, 4 and 6. Data represent the mean + / - SD of 4 replicates distributed in randomized blocks, with 40 plants / repeat (**p<0.05, *P<0.1).

[0118] As shown in Table 2, tomato plants treated with MLG43 exhibited a 9% increase in total weight of fruit production when compared to untreated plants. Fruit size and weight increased by 8% and 7%, respectively, in tomato plants treated with MLG43 (Table 3).

[0119] Table 2. Total weight tomato production in MLG43 treated tomato plants per harvest date

[0120]

[0121] Table 3. Average fruit size and weight of MLG43 treated tomato plants per harvest date

[0122]

[0123] Example 4. Watermelon plants treated with MLG43 exhibit higher yield and fruit quality

[0124] Watermelon plants of the varieties Motril and Boston were sown in a greenhouse on December 19, 2018. A total of 1600 plants were used, of which 800 control plants and 800 MLG43 treated plants, distributed in randomized blocks. From January to April 2019, the MLG43 treated plants were sprayed with 0.05 g / l of MLG43 (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) at 10 ml / plant / month, four times. Control plants were treated with water or mock (adjuvants alone). Plants were harvested twice in April 2020 and data were collected per harvest day following the following categories: Category 1 (CAT1), which is the best, and Category 2 (CAT2), which is the less quality. Data represent the mean + / - SD of 4 replicates distributed in randomized blocks, with 40 plants / repeat (**p<0.05).

[0125] Table 4. Total weight watermelon production in MLG43 treated watermelon plants per category and per harvest date

[0126]

[0127] As shown above in Table 4, watermelon plants treated with MLG43 exhibited an increase of 46.5% in total fruit production and an increase of 62% in fruit quality when compared to untreated plants. In addition, only 5.2% of the MLG43 treated plants were in category 2 compared to 14.4% of the untreated plants.

[0128] Example 5. Pepper plants treated with MLG43 have increased fruit production and quality

[0129] Pepper plants varieties California, Guepard and Ferrari were sown on December 19, 2018 in a greenhouse. A total of 512 plants were used for each variety, with 256 control plants and 256 plants treated with MLG43, distributed in randomized blocks. From January to April 2019, plants treated with 0.05 g / l MLG43 (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) were sprayed 5 times per month with 5 ml / plant / month. Data represent the mean of 4 replicates distributed in randomized blocks + / - SD, with plants per replicate (* p < 0.1).

[0130] Table 5. Total production per pepper plant in grams of plants treated with MLG43 or control

[0131]

[0132]

[0133] As shown above in Table 5, pepper plants treated with MLG43 had an increase in fruit production between 22.5% and 33.7% compared to untreated plants.

[0134] Table 6. Average weight per pepper fruit in grams in plants treated with MLG43 or control

[0135]

[0136] As shown above in Table 6, pepper plants treated with MLG43 had an increase in average fruit weight between 3.48% and 14% compared to untreated plants.

[0137] Example 6. Pepper plants treated with MLG43 have increased resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

[0138] Pepper plants of variety Ferrari were sown on November 26, 2018 and grown in a greenhouse. Two days before inoculation by foliar spray with 5 ml / plant of a 250 cfu / ml suspension of S. sclerotiorum, 0.125 g / l MLG43 (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) was applied by foliar spray on 5-week-old plants at 2 ml / plant. Plants were kept under 100% relative humidity for ten days, then humidity was reduced to 80% for the rest of the experiment. Disease symptoms were assessed at 5 and 9 day-post inoculation (dpi) following disease severity index score (where 0 corresponds to asymptomatic, and 4 corresponds to dead leaves).

[0139] Data represent the mean + / - SD of 4 replicates distributed in randomized blocks, with 6 plants per replicate. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05) according to Student’s t-test.

[0140] Table 7. Disease symptom score of pepper plants inoculated with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum after treatment with MLG43 or control Example 7. Tomato plants treated with MLG43 have increased resistance to Pseudomonas syringae.

[0141]

[0142] As shown above in Table 7, at 9 dpi, the disease index in MLG43-treated pepper plants was significantly lower than in untreated pepper plants.

[0143] Figure 2

[0144] Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum variety Moneymaker) were sown on November 15, 2018 and grown in a greenhouse. Three-week-old tomato plants were sprayed with 2 ml of a 0.125 g / l MLG43 solution (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) or mock (surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide). Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 (10 8 cfu / ml) infection was performed 48 hours after treatment with the MLG43 solution or mock. Tomato leaf discs were collected at 0 and 11 days post inoculation (dpi) and colony-forming units (cfu) per leaf area were determined. Data represent the mean ± σ (n=8). Statistically significant differences (**p<0.01) according to Student’s t-test.

[0145] As shown in Example 8. Cucumber plants treated with MLG43 have increased resistance to Podosphaera xanthii , there was a clear log cfu / cm 2Decreased (1.02).

[0146] Table 8. Disease index AUDPC for control plants and plants treated with six different ratios of MLG43

[0147] Cucumber plants were sown between March and September 2019 and distributed in randomized blocks with 9 plants with 7 replicates (63 plants / treatment) and grown in a standard greenhouse. Two days before inoculation with P. pachulli var. brown, MLG43 1 g / l (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) was sprayed at 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 200 g / ha. Then, plants were evaluated at 6, 9 and 14 days post inoculation (dpi) following the disease severity index score (where 0 corresponds to asymptomatic and 5 to dead plants). The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated as a quantitative summary of disease intensity over time and of the efficacy of the protection. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences (p<0.05) according to Student’s t-test.

[0148] Treatment

[0149] 6 dpi 9 dpi 14 dpi AUDPC Potency Control Inoculated, untreated 0.0e 0.0e 0.0d 0.0d 100a C1 MLG43 3.3a 3.4a 3.6a 27.6a 0.0d 2.5 bc C2 MLG43 2.9b 2.9b 22.7b 17.7c 2.3 cd 2.6 cd C3 MLG43 2.6c 20.0c 27.6b C4 MLG43 2.0d 2.4d 2.5c 19.0c 31.0b C5 MLG43 2.0d 2.5d 2.5c 19.1c 30.9b 2.6 bc 2.8 bc C6 MLG43 2.8b 22.2b 19.4c Example 9. Compact squash plants treated with MLG43 have increased resistance to Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV) 2.7b 3.0b 3.0b 23.6b 14.1c

[0150] As shown above in Table 8, the disease index, i.e. AUDPC and efficacy, in cucumber plants treated with MLG43 at six different rates was significantly lower than in untreated cucumber plants inoculated with P. pachulli var. brown. The differences were dose-dependent, with the highest rate statistically giving the highest level of protection against the pathogenic disease. The EC50 value (rate inducing half-maximal resistance) was 50 g / ha.

[0151] Table 9. ToLCNDV infection index in MLG43 or untreated compact squash plants Table 10. Total compact squash fruit production (Kg) per plant sprayed every three weeks with MLG43 (0.05 g / l) or untreated (control) plants

[0152] Natural ToLCNDV infection occurred in dense zucchini plants of the varieties Victoria and Cronos grown by experienced farmers under standard greenhouse conditions in Almeria, Spain. A total of 2200 (variety Victoria) and 4300 (variety Cronos) plants were used as untreated controls, while 4400 (variety Victoria) and 2190 (variety Cronos) plants were sprayed every two weeks with MLG43 0.05 g / l (with adjuvants: surfactant 0.05%, antifoam and biocide) and combined with abamectin (twice) and combined with imidacloprid or spinosad (alternately every other week). Further, Mancozeb was added twice as a combination. Control plants were treated with abamectin or imidacloprid or spinosad or Mancozeb alone. For the detection of viral load, completely randomized blocks with 10 plants (180 plants for each control and MLG43 treated) were designed with 18 replicates and 2 young leaves / plant were harvested and used for tissue print hybridization on positively charged nylon membranes with virus-specific digoxigenin-labeled probes. The digoxigenin-labeled probes were obtained by PCR amplification from the partial AV1 gene of DNA-A from ToLCNDV using the primer pair ToNDA-580F: 5'-TCACACATCGCGTAGGCAAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 1) and ToNDA-935R: 5'-TGCCGGCCTCTTGTTGATTG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 2) using the PCR DIG Labeling Mix (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) and following the manufacturer's instructions. Immuno-detection was performed with anti-digoxigenin antibody conjugated with alkaline phosphatase (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) and chemiluminescence with CSPD as substrate (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) following the manufacturer's instructions and different exposure times (15 min - overnight) for Lumi-films (Amersham Bioscience, UK). The viral disease index was calculated as the number of ToLCNDV positive plants per total number of sampled plants of 180.

[0153] Example 10. Pepper plants treated with MLG43 have increased resistance to Botrytis cinerea

[0154]

[0155] Plants treated with MLG43 had lower New Delhi Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (ToLCNDV) infection index as shown above in Table 9. Table 10 below shows total bush squash fruit production / plant in treated and untreated plants. Treated plants were sprayed with 0.05 g / l MLG43 every three weeks.

[0156] Column 1 shows the location, column 2 shows the group, column 3 shows the average yield per plant in kilograms, column 4 shows the number of plants per group, column 5 shows the gain percentage relative to the control value, and column 6 shows the P-value corresponding to the statistical T2 analysis of the data and treatment for the daily yield / plant. P-values lower than 0.05 indicate significant differences between the control group and the treated group (a = 0.05). Plants were grown in conventional production greenhouses in Almeria, Murcia and Granada, Spain. The percentage relative to the control value is shown for the annual harvest data.

[0157] Figure 3 Figure 4

[0158]

[0159] As shown above in Table 10, plants treated with MLG43 showed an increase in fruit production from 4.9% to 38.3% compared to untreated plants.

[0160] Figure 4

[0161] Five-week-old pepper plants (Capsicum annuum, Murano) were pre-treated with MLG43 (0.25 mg / plant) two days prior to Botrytis cinerea inoculation with foliar spray application. Control plants were mock treated. Two days after treatment, control and MLG43 treated plants were moved to a 75% humidity greenhouse room and were spray inoculated with 3 ml of Gamborg’s B5 medium containing Botrytis cinerea conidia. Disease symptoms were assessed in all leaves per plant (n=12) at 5 dpi and 9 dpi using a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 = no symptoms; 1 = 9 small necrotic spots (<10% of leaf area); 2 = two or more noticeable necrotic spots (10-25% of leaf area); 3 = large necrotic area (25-50% of leaf area); 4 = more than 50% of leaf area affected; 5 = leaf senescence. MLG43 treated pepper plants showed a reduction in disease symptom index compared to mock treated plants; the reduction was significant (p<0.05) for Botrytis infection at both 5 and 9 dpi (days post inoculation). Results are shown in Table 11.Example 11. MLG43 confers enhanced disease resistance to Oomycetes (**p<0.05).

[0162] In a further study, pepper plants were treated with 0.125 mg / ml MLG43. In this study, pepper plants (Bell Boy) were grown in soil- vermiculite (3:1) in a greenhouse at 21-19°C under 14 hours light / 10 hours dark. Five week old plants were mock treated (control) or treated with 2 ml of MLG43 solution (0.125 mg / ml). Two days after treatment, plants were moved to a 75% humidity greenhouse room and sprayed with 3 ml of Gamborg's B5 medium containing 10 6 Disease symptoms were assessed in all leaves per plant (n=12) at 5 dpi and 9 dpi using a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 = no symptoms; 1 = small necrotic spots (<10% leaf area); 2 = two or more noticeable necrotic spots (10-25% leaf area); 3 = large necrotic area (25-50% leaf area); 4 = more than 50% leaf area affected; 5 = leaf senescence. Disease symptom indices produced by B. cinerea in leaves of pepper plants at 5 and 9 days post inoculation (dpi) are shown in Figure 5 (**p<0.05). These results show that treatment of pepper plants with 0.125 mg / ml of MLG43 confers enhanced disease resistance against B. cinerea. Results are graphically illustrated in Example 12. Wheat plants treated with MLG43 exhibit enhanced disease resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici (**p<0.05). These results show that treatment of pepper plants with 0.125 mg / ml of MLG43 confers enhanced disease resistance against B. cinerea. Results are graphically illustrated in

[0163] Figure 6

[0164] Treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0 ecotype) with MLG43 confers enhanced disease resistance against the oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Noco2 isolate). In this example, Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0 ecotype) plants were grown in soil-vermiculite (3:1) at 21-20°C and 75% humidity under short day conditions (10 hours light / 14 hours dark). Two week old plants were either untreated (mock control) or treated with 0.1 ml of MLG43 solution / pot at 0.1 mg / ml or 0.5 mg / ml by foliar spray. Two days after treatment, plants were inoculated with 0.1 ml of H. arabidopsidis isolate Noco2 sporangia suspension (4 x 105sporangia / ml) by spraying the underside of the leaves. Disease symptoms were assessed in all leaves per plant (n=12) at 5 dpi and 9 dpi using a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 = no symptoms; 1 = small necrotic spots (<10% leaf area); 2 = two or more noticeable necrotic spots (10-25% leaf area); 3 = large necrotic area (25-50% leaf area); 4 = more than 50% leaf area affected; 5 = leaf senescence. Disease symptom indices produced by H. arabidopsidis in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana at 5 and 9 days post inoculation (dpi) are shown in 4Plants were spray inoculated with 2.5 x 105conidia / ml. Seven days after inoculation, the presence of P. parasitica in the plants was quantified as "abundance of conidia / mg fresh weight of plant" by harvesting the inoculated plants in water, shaking them, and counting the conidia using a Neubauer chamber. The number of P. parasitica conidia / mg fresh weight of plant determined seven days after inoculation showed an increased disease resistance in plants treated with MLG43. Statistically significant differences according to Student's t-test were measured in plants treated with MLG43 compared to mock-treated control plants (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01). The results are shown in ​

[0165] ​ ​

[0166] Seeds from wheat (Triticum aestivum L. species "Chinese Spring") were sown in peat substrate and grown in a greenhouse at 17°C (day) and 15°C (night) for 17 days with a 16-hour light period and 60% humidity. For all infection experiments, 2 x 3 pot arrays (each 7 x 7 cm and 200 ml) containing two seedlings per unit were used.

[0167] Wheat Passalora farlowi inoculum (Swiss strain ST99CH_3D7) (described by Zhan et al., Molecular Ecology, 14:2683-2693 (2005)) was prepared as follows: 3D7 was inoculated on YPD (yeast extract 10 g / L, peptone 10 g / L, dextrose 20 g / L, agar 15 g / L) plates. After 4 days of inoculation at 18°C, spores were collected in sterile deionized water and stored on ice until infection. The concentration of the spore suspension was determined with a Neubauer counting chamber and adjusted to 2.5 x 105spores / ml at 0.1% (v / v) for inoculation. 6

[0168] ​​Wheat plants were mock treated or sprayed with 12 ml of 0.25 mg / ml or 0.75 mg / ml of MLG43. Twenty-four hours later, plants were spray inoculated with 12 ml of fungal spore suspension. The pot array was placed into a sealed bag to maintain humidity at 100% during the 2 days post-inoculation. For symptom quantification, the second leaf was assembled on a paper sheet, scanned with a flatbed scanner (CanoScan LiDE 400) and analyzed by using automated image analysis (Stewart et al., Molecular Plant Pathology, 19:201-216 (2016)). Data analysis and plotting were performed by using RStudio v.1.0.143. Confidence intervals for the median were determined using the 'boot' package and Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test for statistical significance with the'matching' package in RStudio. According to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, a statistically significant difference in disease resistance was observed in MLG43 treatment compared to mock treated plants (p-value < 0.1). Results are shown in ​

[0169] Table 1. Genes differentially expressed in Arabidopsis after MLG43 treatment. Genes were considered up- or down-regulated when the n-fold was higher than 2 or lower than 0.5, respectively.

[0170]

[0171]

[0172]

[0173]

[0174]

[0175]

[0176]

[0177]

[0178]

[0179]

[0180]

[0181] ​

[0182]

[0183]

[0184]

[0185]

[0186]

[0187]

[0188]

[0189]

[0190]

[0191]

[0192]

[0193]

[0194]

[0195]

[0196]

[0197]

[0198]

[0199]

[0200]

[0201]

[0202]

[0203]

[0204]

[0205]

[0206]

[0207]

[0208]

[0209]

[0210]

[0211]

[0212]

[0213]

[0214]

[0215]

[0216]

[0217]

[0218]

[0219]

[0220]

[0221]

[0222]

[0223]

[0224]

[0225]

[0226]

[0227] The foregoing is illustrative of the present application, and is not to be construed as limiting the application. The application is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein as well.

Claims

1. Use of a composition comprising an effective amount / ratio of mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) for increasing growth characteristics of a plant or a part thereof.

2. The use of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant, an antioxidant, a preservative, a plant macronutrient, a plant micronutrient, a plant growth regulator, a plant biostimulant, a pesticide, a fungicide, an antiviral, an antibacterial, a herbicide, or any combination thereof.

3. The use of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a wetting agent and / or an adjuvant.

4. The use of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition is in the form of an aqueous solution, a non-aqueous solution, a suspension, a gel, a foam, a paste, a solid, and / or an emulsion.

5. The use of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition is in the form of a powder and / or a dust.

6. The use of claim 1, wherein the mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) comprises a degree of polymerization of 2 to >100.

7. The use of claim 6, wherein the mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) comprises a degree of polymerization of 3 to 8.

8. The use of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) is in the composition in an amount of 0.1 mg / l to >100 g / l of the composition.

9. The use of claim 8, wherein the mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) is in the composition in an amount of 0.5 mg / l to 5 g / l of the composition.

10. A method for increasing growth characteristics of a plant or a part thereof, the method comprising applying to a plant or a plant part thereof, or to soil, a hydroponic solution, or a growth medium in which a target plant is growing, a composition comprising an effective amount / ratio of mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying comprises contacting the plant with the composition at least twice.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant, an antioxidant, a preservative, a plant macronutrient, a plant micronutrient, a plant growth regulator, a plant biostimulant, a pesticide, a fungicide, an antiviral, an antibacterial, a herbicide, or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the composition further comprises a wetting agent and / or an adjuvant.

14. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) is in the composition in an amount of 0.1 mg / l to >100 g / l of the composition.

15. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the mixed linkage β-1,3 / β-1,4 glucan (MLG) is in the composition in an amount of 0.5 mg / l to 5 g / l of the composition.

16. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the increased growth characteristic is increased fruit production, increased inflorescence production, increased fruit quality, and / or increased biomass as compared to a control plant or plant part thereof.

17. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the plant is a monocot or a dicot.

18. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the plant part is a seed.

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