Methods for reducing plant stress, fungi and mycotoxins

Abstract

A method for increasing the tolerance / resistance of a plant or part thereof to abiotic and / or biotic stresses by treating the plant or part thereof, or the growth medium for growing the plant, with an effective amount or rate of a composition containing Colletotrichum tofieldiae. For example, a method for reducing fungal genera involved in mycotoxin production can include contacting the plant with a composition containing the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from the microorganism. The plant is contacted with a composition containing the microorganism C. tofieldiae, a culture medium, or a filtrate. The composition can be applied to the entire plant or any part thereof, such as leaves, shoots, flowers, fruits, cobs, seeds, bulbs, tubers, roots, and seedlings. The composition can be applied to the plant at any stage of the planting, growing, and / or harvesting season.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Related Applications This application claims priority from Spanish Application No. 202230895, filed October 18, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Technical Field The present disclosure relates to the field of agriculture, and in particular to methods for reducing abiotic and biotic plant stress, fungal colonization of plants and plant products, and mycotoxin-producing fungi using the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae. [Background technology]

[0003] background In nature, plants form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms, called synergists, that benefit their growth, survival, and proliferation. These microorganisms can be isolated and their beneficial properties can be harnessed in crops to improve crop yields.

[0004] The genus Colletotrichum (ascomycetes, sexual stage name Glomerella) comprises more than 60 species and species complexes. Morphologically, they are characterized by a typical acervular conidiocarp, with or without setae, and unicellular, colorless, transparent conidia, which can be straight or curved, preferably larger than 12 μm, and are usually granular. Conidia may be formed from hyphae or other conidia (microcyclic conidia). Upon germination, conidia form appressoria. Some species form stroma or sclerotia.

[0005] The genus Colletotrichum is an important crop pathogen and is the most common and best studied. However, many species within this genus have been reported to be endophytic or epiphytic fungi (called symbionts) that do not harm the host plant, or even beneficial to the plant (mutualistic fungi). Hyde et al. (Fungal Diversity 39 (2009) 147-182) provide a thorough description of all known Colletotrichum species, listing their cited hosts and specifying the type of interaction with each host (pathogenic, commensal, or mutualistic). Evidence cited in this publication suggests that even within species and species complexes considered pathogenic, asymptomatic strains may exist. Depending on the host being inoculated, strains may also act as pathogens, commensals, or mutualists. An example of this is C. orbiculare. C. orbiculare acts as a pathogen in Cucurbitaceae plants, but can also act as a mutualist in tomato plants, where, when inoculated into the roots, it confers resistance to pathogens and drought and promotes plant growth. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Disclosure Overview The inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that treating a plant and / or parts thereof, and / or a growth medium for growing the plant with an effective amount / rate of a composition comprising Colletotrichum tofieldiae can increase the tolerance / resistance of the plant or parts thereof to abiotic and / or biotic stresses.

[0007] One embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for reducing fungal genera associated with mycotoxin production, which may include contacting the plant with a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae and / or an extract from this microorganism and / or a filtrate from this microorganism, hereinafter referred to as the "method of the present disclosure."

[0008] Hereinafter, the term "microorganisms of the present disclosure" refers to microorganisms from the species Colletotrichum tofieldiae.

[0009] Mycotoxins are metabolic products produced by fungi. Mycotoxin-producing fungi can grow on plants and plant-derived products. Mycotoxin contamination of plants and plant-derived products can adversely affect agricultural production, crop quality, and pose risks to people who consume the plants and plant-derived products. Reduction of fungal genera associated with mycotoxin production by the methods of the present disclosure should be understood as a reduction in the various genera that produce mycotoxins and cause postharvest disease in corn kernels compared to plants that have not been treated according to the methods of the present disclosure.

[0010] The species C. tofieldiae was described by Damm et al. (Fungal Diversity 39 (2009) 45-87). This species is characterized by conidiocarps with curved conidia and brown or black setae. Conidia and setae may be formed directly on the hyphae. Spores germinate to form appressoria of various shapes and colors. The species definition is based on molecular features including the sequence of the 5.8S ribosomal subunit with two interspacer regions (ITS), a 200-bp intron in the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene, and partial sequences of the actin (ACT) gene, chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1) gene, β-tubulin (Tub2) gene, and histone 3 (HIS3) gene. Representative isolates of C. tofieldiae are Tofieldia spp. (monocotyledons), Lupinus polyphyllus, and Dianthus sp. (dicotyledons). C. tofieldiae has not been reported to be pathogenic to any host.

[0011] This disclosure describes the isolation, identification, and characterization of a C. tofieldiae isolate capable of significantly reducing fungal colonization, including those associated with mycotoxin production and postharvest disease, in corn kernels. Citing Diaz-Gonzalez et al. 2020 Agronomy 2020, 10, 1493; doi:10.3390 / agronomy10101493 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), it has been shown that the fungus can be re-isolated from different plant tissues (see page 7). For example, it can be detected in corn roots at harvest (page 9) and in tomato roots and stems one month after inoculation of tomato plants.

[0012] The disclosed method reduces fungal colonization, particularly that of mycotoxin-producing genera, particularly fungal colonization within Aspergillus spp. This characteristic is first described in the disclosed C. tofieldiae strain and is a general phenomenon for the species. In the disclosed method, plants are contacted with a composition containing the disclosed microorganism C. tofieldiae, a culture medium, or a filtrate. The composition can be applied to the whole plant or any part thereof, such as leaves, shoots, flowers, fruits, cobs, seeds, bulbs, tubers, roots, and seedlings. The composition can be applied to plants at any stage, for example, before sowing, during sowing, or to seeds after sowing, or before or after shoot emergence, during the growing season, such as during nursery cultivation, when transplanting seedlings, when plant cuttings are taken or when cuttings are rooted, during the growing season in a plantation, during the reproductive season before or during flowering, during the fruit ripening process, or after harvesting of fruits or grains.

[0013] The present disclosure has applications in the field of agriculture. One embodiment provides methods and compositions for increasing tolerance or resistance to biotic and / or abiotic stress in plants and / or parts thereof, the methods and compositions comprising applying a composition comprising C. tofieldiae to the plant or part thereof and / or to the medium in which the plant or part thereof is growing.

[0014] Thus, another embodiment refers to the method of the present disclosure, wherein said composition is applied to the seeds of said plant.

[0015] Another embodiment refers to the method of the present disclosure, wherein said composition is applied to the above-ground parts of said plant.

[0016] Another embodiment refers to a method of the present disclosure wherein said composition is applied to the roots of said plant or to the soil surrounding said plant or other underground part of said plant.

[0017] The method of the present disclosure includes spraying or misting the whole plant, or any part thereof, or plant product with an appropriate dilution of the composition according to the present disclosure, or immersing the whole plant, or any part thereof, in the dilution. The method of the present disclosure also includes dry-dusting the whole plant, or any part thereof, with the composition according to the present disclosure. The method of the present disclosure also includes applying a thin layer of the composition according to the present disclosure to seeds, applying it in pellets, or coating the plant or soil surface. The composition according to the present disclosure can also be mixed with a drench solution. The method of the present disclosure also includes treatment with mycelium hyphae, spores, or sclerotia, which are contacted with parts of the plant, such as the roots, stems, and leaves, or the soil surface near the roots of the crop.

[0018] As used herein, the term "filtrate" refers to a liquid medium obtained from growing a microorganism of the present disclosure. It is possible to obtain a liquid medium that is free of, or essentially free of, the microorganism of the present disclosure. The medium can be prepared by first growing the microorganism of the present disclosure in a liquid medium and separating the microorganism of the present disclosure from the liquid medium. Separation can be performed by various methods known to those skilled in the art, such as centrifugation or filtration. For example, a medium containing a microorganism of the present disclosure can be heated twice to about 80°C for 30 minutes and then centrifuged to remove fungal material.

[0019] The filtrate is obtained by filtering the medium through a filter having a pore size of 2 μm or less, preferably a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm or less. This filtration step can remove essentially all mycelia from the microorganisms of the present disclosure, more preferably, this filtration should also remove spores, and even more preferably, all types of fungal material.

[0020] As used herein, the term "extract" refers to the purification, dehydration, or separation of components from a culture obtained from growing a microorganism of the present disclosure. Extract media can be obtained that are free of, or essentially free of, the microorganisms of the present disclosure. Extracts may contain components of the microorganisms of the present disclosure. Methods of extraction are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, grinding, lyophilization, solvents, distillation, pressure, heat, liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), and / or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The present disclosure also refers to products produced from plants and harvested parts of plants contacted with the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or compositions comprising extracts and / or filtrates from the microorganisms according to the methods of the present disclosure.

[0021] In some embodiments, the composition can include the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism in an amount ranging from about 0.01 mg to about 100 g per liter (L) of composition. Thus, in some embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure may comprise a concentration of from about 0.01 mg / L to about 1 mg / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 10 mg / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 100 mg / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 1 g / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 10 g / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 100 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 1 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 5 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 10 g / L, from about 0.1 g / L to about 15 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 20 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 30 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 40 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 100 g / L, from 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 ~ approx. 20 g / L, approx. 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, 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 The solution may contain the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism in a concentration ranging from about 100 g / L to about 100 g / L, or any value or range therein.

[0022] In some embodiments, the effective amount of the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates from said microorganisms is sufficient to increase the tolerance / resistance of a plant or part thereof to abiotic and / or biotic stress. In some embodiments, the effective amount of the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates from said microorganisms in the composition may be from about 0.01 mg per liter to about 100 g per liter of composition. In some embodiments, an effective amount of the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism in a composition may be from about 0.01 mg / L to about 1 mg / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 10 mg / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 100 mg / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 1 g / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 10 g / L, from about 0.01 mg / L to about 100 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 1 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 5 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 10 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 15 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 20 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 30 g / L, from about 0.01 g / L to about 40 g / L, or from about 0.01 g / L ~ approx. 100 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 1 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 5 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 10 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 20 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 30 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 40 g / L, approx. 0.5 g / L ~ approx. 50 g / L, approx. 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 ~ approx. 20 g / L, approx. 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, 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 The concentration can be from about 100 g / L to about 100 g / L, or any value or range therein.

[0023] In some embodiments, the compositions comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates thereof can further comprise peptides, proteins, sugars, and / or carbohydrates. In some embodiments, the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates thereof can comprise peptides and / or proteins in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% w / w of the extract. In some embodiments, a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism may comprise the peptide and / or 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% of the composition, or any range or value therein. Thus, in some embodiments, a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism may comprise an amount of peptides and / or proteins of about 0.01, 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.

[0024] In some embodiments, the composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism may contain other sugars and / or carbohydrates in an amount of about 1% to about 35% w / w of the extract. In some embodiments, the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism may contain 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% of the extract. %, 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 35%, or about 30% to about 35% w / w, or any value or range of amounts contained therein. Thus, in some embodiments, the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts from said microorganisms and / or filtrates from said microorganisms may 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.

[0025] In some embodiments, sugars and / or carbohydrates that can be included in compositions comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates from said microorganism include, but are not limited to, glucose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, other glucan oligosaccharides, glucose-derived low-branched polysaccharides, glycogen, mannan oligosaccharides, mannose-derived low-branched polysaccharides, galactan, galactomannan, arabinan, and / or xylan.

[0026] In some embodiments, the compositions comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts from and / or filtrates from the microorganism can further comprise additional ingredients such as, but not limited to, surfactants, humectants, adjuvants, antioxidants, preservatives, plant macronutrients, plant micronutrients, plant growth regulators, insecticides, fungicides, antivirals, antibacterials, herbicides, or any combination thereof.

[0027] Examples of surfactants include alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, alkylarylsulfonates, sodium dodecyl sulfate, alkyl sulfates, and the like, alkyl sulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acid and sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, sulfonated condensates of naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or naphthalenesulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether, ethoxylated These include, but are not limited to, isooctylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, alkylphenyl polyglycol ether, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, tristearylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkylaryl polyether alcohol, alcohol and fatty alcohol / ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol, polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters, lignin-sulfite waste liquor, and / or methylcellulose.

[0028] In some embodiments, the surfactant may be present in a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from said microorganism in an amount of about 0.1% to about 40% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, the surfactant may be present in a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from said microorganism in an amount of about 0.1% to about 1%, about 1% to about 10%, 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 The surfactant may be present in an amount of 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 of the composition, or any range or value therein. Thus, in some embodiments, the surfactant may be present in an amount of 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 30% to about 40%, about 35% to about 40% w / w of the composition, or any range or value therein. tofieldiae and / or extracts from said microorganisms and / or filtrates from said microorganisms, the composition may contain about 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%, 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%, 101 It may be present in an amount of 0.9%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 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% w / w, or any range or value therein.

[0029] Examples of humectants can include, but are not limited to, glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, glyceryl triacetate, sodium lactate, urea formaldehyde, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and / or fatty acids.

[0030] Examples of antioxidants may include, but are not limited to, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, and / or butylated hydroxytoluene.

[0031] Examples of preservatives include sorbic acid, sodium sorbate, sorbates, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, benzoates, hydroxybenzoates and their derivatives, sulfur dioxide and sulfites, nitrites, nitrates, lactic acid, propionic acid and sodium propionate, tocopherol, plant 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, propyl gallate), gallic acid, sodium gallate, sulfur dioxide, sulfites, tocopherol, and / or methyl chloramphenicol. These include, but are not limited to, chloroisothiazolinone, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT), hexahydro-1,3,5-tris-hydroxyethyl-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-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDMH), 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), and / or poly(hexamethylenebiguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB).

[0032] In some embodiments, the preservative may be present in the composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism in an amount of about 0.001% to about 5% w / w, or any range or value therein. In some embodiments, the composition may contain a preservative in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 0.1%, from about 0.001% to about 0.5%, from about 0.001% to about 1%, from about 0.001% to about 2%, from about 0.001% to about 3%, from about 0.001% to about 4%, from about 0.01% to about 0.1%, from about 0.0.01% to about 0.5%, from about 0.01% to about 1%, from about 0.01% to about 2%, from about 0.01% to about 3%, from about 0.01% to about 4%, from about 0.01% to about 5%, from about 0.05% to about 0.1%, from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, from about 0.05% to about 1%, from 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% The preservative may be present 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%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.07%, 0.08%, 0.09%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.07%, 0.08%, 0.09%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.09%, 10 ... It may contain an amount of 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 contained therein.

[0033] Examples of plant macronutrients include, but are not limited to, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and / or sulfur.

[0034] Examples of plant micronutrients can include, but are not limited to, iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper, zinc, chlorine, and / or cobalt.

[0035] Exemplary plant growth regulators include, but are not limited to, auxins (including, but not limited to, naphthaleneacetic 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, jasmonic acid, brassinosteroids (e.g., brassinolide), or any combination thereof.

[0036] Examples of pesticides include, but are not limited to, malathion, parathion, methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, phosmet, fenitrothion, tetrachlorvinphos, azamethiphos, fenvalerate, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, zeta-cypermethrin, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, ryanodol, 9,21-didehydroryanodol, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, and / or cyantraniliprole.

[0037] Examples of fungicides include, but are not limited to, prothioconazole, trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, propiconazole, and / or pyraclostrobin.

[0038] Examples of antimicrobial agents (bactericides) include, but are not limited to, methylisothiazolinone, chloromethylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone, octylisothiazolinone, dichlorooctylisothiazolinone, and / or butylbenzisothiazolinone.

[0039] Examples of herbicides can include, but are not limited to, glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, atrazine, S-metolachlor, and / or 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid.

[0040] In some embodiments, compositions containing the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates thereof can further include an antifoaming agent. Any antifoaming agent suitable for use in agricultural and / or food products can be used. Exemplary antifoaming agents include, but are not limited to, long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, including but not limited to C12-C14, C18:1, and C18:2 unsaturated fatty acids, and / or synthetic polysiloxanes (silicones), including but not limited to polydimethylsiloxane, and / or hydrophobic silica. In some embodiments, compositions containing the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts and / or filtrates thereof can include an amount of antifoaming 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 antifoaming agent may 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.

[0041] In some embodiments, the composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or a filtrate from the microorganism can further comprise a biocide. The biocide can be any biocide suitable for use on agricultural products and / or food. When included in a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or a filtrate from the microorganism, the biocide is present in an amount of about 0.1 g L of the composition. -1 ~Approx. 20g L -1 Thus, in some embodiments, the biocide may 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 grams per liter of composition, or any range or value therein.

[0042] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for increasing disease resistance in plants or parts thereof. The methods include applying an effective amount of a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from the microorganism to the plant or part thereof and / or growth medium, thereby increasing disease resistance in the plant or part thereof compared to a control plant and / or part thereof (e.g., a plant or part thereof to which the composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from the microorganism has not been applied). In some embodiments, the methods include 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 methods include applying the composition at least twice (e.g., about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more times).

[0043] In some embodiments, when a composition containing the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or a filtrate from the microorganism is applied to a plant or part thereof and / or growth medium at least twice, the time period between applications can vary. Thus, for example, subsequent applications of a composition containing the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or a filtrate from the microorganism can occur anywhere from about 1 day to about 6 months after the previous application. Thus, for example, subsequent applications can be about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 days after the previous application, 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, 26 weeks after the previous application, or any range or value therein.

[0044] In some embodiments, the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts from and / or filtrates from said microorganism, when applied to plants or parts thereof and / or growth media, can increase resistance or tolerance to viral pathogens, including, but not limited to, viruses from the following virus families: 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.

[0045] In some embodiments, compositions comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts from said microorganism and / or filtrates from said microorganism, when applied to plants or parts thereof and / or growth media, can prevent or control viruses including, but not limited to, Turnip mosaic virus, Papaya ringspot virus, Bud blight virus, Bean pod mottle virus, Lettuce mosaic virus, Corn 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, Plum ringspot virus, Tomato bushy stunt virus, Tomato spotted wilt virus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Rice ragged stunt virus, Rice tungro bacilliform virus, Rice dwarf virus, Rice yellow mottle virus, virus), Cucumber mosaic virus, Brome mosaic virus, Wheat yellow dwarf virus, Barley yellow dwarf virus, Sugarcane mosaic virus, Beet yellows virus, Lettuce yellows virus, Corn dwarf mosaic virus, Maize streak virus, Peanut dwarf virus, Citrus tristeza virus, Potato leaf curl virus, Potato virus X, Potato virus Y, Sweet potato feathery mosaic virus, It can increase resistance to viruses including melon necrotic spot virus, maize white line mosaic virus, maize chlorotic mottle virus, banana bunchy top virus, cacao swollen shoot virus, tomato leaf curl New Dehli virus, banana streak virus, and sweet potato sunken vein closterovirus.

[0046] In some embodiments, application of the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts of said microorganism and / or filtrates of said microorganism to plants or parts thereof and / or growth media can promote the growth of plants and / or parts thereof, including but not limited to, plants of 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, Trichochomaceae, Erysiphaceae, Cytt ariaceae, Hemiphacidiaceae, Hyaloscyphaceae, Phacidiaceae, Sclerotiniaceae, Ascodichaenaceae, Mediolariaceae, Rhytismataceae, Meliolaceae, Caloscyphaceae, Sarcosomataceae, Cryphonectriaceae, Diaporthaceae, Gnomoniaceae, Valsaceae, Glomerellaceae, Plectosphaer ellaceae, Bionectriaceae, Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreaceae, Nectriaceae, Magnaporthaceae, Pyriculariaceae, Ceratocystideae, Ophiostomataceae, Phyllachoraceae, Chaetomiaceae, Amphisphaeriaceae, Diatrypaceae, Xylariaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Marasmiaceae, Mycenaceae,Resistance to fungal pathogens can be increased, including fungal / oomycete pathogens from the families Schizophyllaceae, Typhulaceae, Thelephoraceae, Atheliaceae, Atheliaceae, Stereaceae, Echinodontiaceae, Corticiaceae, Ganodermataceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Cystofilobasidiaceae, Helicobasidiaceae, Helicobasidiaceae, Melampsoraceae, Phakopsoraceae, Pucciniaceae, Tilletiaceae, Entylomataceae, Ustilaginaceae, Leptolegniaceae, and / or Peronosporaceae.

[0047] In some embodiments, application of the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts from said microorganism and / or filtrates from said microorganism to plants or parts thereof and / or growth media can result in the growth of a number of species of plants, including, but not limited to, Physoderma alfalfa, Physoderma maydis, Synchytrium endobioticum, Olpidium brassicae, Choanephora cucurbitarum, 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 spp., Monilinia fructicola, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Amphilogia gyrosa, Cryphonectria parasitica, Diaporthe citri, Diaporthe helianthi, Diaporthe phaseolorum, 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, Magnaporthiosis maydis(syn. Cephalosporium maydis or Harpophora maydis), Sarocladium strictum(syn. It can increase resistance to fungal pathogens such as Cephalosporium acremonium or Acremonium strictum, and / or Rhizoctonia solani.

[0048] In some embodiments, the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or extracts of said microorganism and / or filtrates of said microorganism, when applied to plants or parts thereof and / or growth media, can increase resistance against 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 disclosure, when applied to plants or parts thereof and / or growing media, can inhibit the growth of a variety of fungi, including, but not limited to, 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 the like. spp., and can increase resistance to bacterial pathogens, including bacterial pathogens of Sphingomonas spp.

[0049] In some embodiments, the application of a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism to plants or parts thereof and / or growth media can be used to inhibit the growth of a variety of fungi, including but not limited to Erwinia amylovora, E. carotovora var. chrysanthemi, D. dadanti, 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 avenae, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, A. rubi (= Rhizobium rubi), A. rhizogenes (=Rhizobium rhizogenes), and A. vitis (=Rhizobium vitis), Bacillus pumilus, Brenneria alni (=Erwinia alni), Clavibacter michiganensis, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pantoea agglomerans, Ralstonia solanacearum, Corynebacterium insidiosum, C.sepedonicum, C. fascians, C. flacumfaciens, C. michiganense, Streptomyces scabies, S. ipomoeae, Pantoea agglomerans, Serratia marcescens, Streptomyces reticuliscabei, Acetobacter aceti, Spiroplasma citri Xylella fastidiosa, and / or Sphingomonas Can increase resistance to bacterial pathogens such as melonis.

[0050] As used herein, "disease resistance" or "disease tolerance" are used interchangeably and refer to a reduction in disease symptoms and / or a reduction in the growth and reproduction of pathogens in a plant or part thereof. In some embodiments, the percent (%) increase in disease resistance / tolerance compared to a control can be in the range of about 0.1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the percent increase in disease resistance / tolerance compared to a control is between about 0.1% and about 10%, between about 0.1% and about 30%, between about 0.1% and about 50%, between about 0.1% and about 80%, between about 0.1% and about 90%, between about 0.1% and about 95%, between about 1% and about 10%, between about 1% and about 20%, between about 1% and about 40%, between about 1% and about 50%, between about 1% and about 75%, between about 1% and about 95%, between about 1% and about 100%, between about 10% and about 20%, between about 10% and about 40%, between about 10% and about 50%, between about 10% and about The increase may be in the ranges of 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 included therein. In some embodiments, the percent increase in disease resistance / tolerance compared to a control is 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%, 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%, 101%, 102%, 103%, 104%, 105%, 106%, 107%, 108%, 109 %, 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 included therein.

[0051] In some embodiments, methods for increasing abiotic stress tolerance of a plant or part thereof are provided. The methods include applying an effective amount of a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from the microorganism to the plant or part thereof and / or growth medium, thereby increasing the abiotic stress tolerance of the plant or part thereof compared to a control plant or part thereof (e.g., a plant or part thereof to which the composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract and / or filtrate from the microorganism has not been applied). In some embodiments, the methods include 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 include 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).

[0052] In some embodiments, the abiotic stress is water stress, salinity (e.g., moderate salinity (EC e =4~8 dSm -1 ), high salinity (EC e >8 dSm -1 )), flooding, freezing (e.g., below about 0°C), cold or low temperatures (e.g., below about 10-15°C), heat or high temperatures (e.g., above about 40°C), high light intensity (e.g., above about 10,000 foot candles), low light intensity (e.g., above about 10,000 foot candles), and / or ozone, and / or combinations thereof.

[0053] As used herein, "increased tolerance to abiotic stress" or "increased resistance to abiotic stress" are used interchangeably and refer to a plant or part thereof and / or growth medium that is contacted with a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism, and is able to better tolerate a given abiotic stress compared to a control plant or part thereof (i.e., a plant or part thereof and / or growth medium that has not been contacted with the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or a composition comprising an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism, but that has been exposed to the same abiotic stress). Increased tolerance to abiotic stress can be measured using various parameters, including, but not limited to, the size and number of plants or parts thereof (e.g., the number and size of fruits), the level or amount of cell division, the amount of flower drop, the amount of sunburn damage, crop yield, etc. Thus, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a plant or part thereof having increased resistance to an abiotic stress, where the plant or part thereof and / or growth medium has been contacted with a composition comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism, will exhibit, for example, an increased number and / or weight of fruits / seeds compared to a plant or part thereof exposed to the same stress but not contacted with the composition.

[0054] In some embodiments, the percent increase in resistance / tolerance to abiotic stress compared to the control may be an increase in the range of about 0.1% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the percent increase in resistance / tolerance to abiotic stress compared to the control may be about 0.1% to about 10%, about 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%, or 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 included therein. In some embodiments, the percent increase in tolerance / resistance to abiotic stress is 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%, 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%, 101%, 102%, 103%, 104%, 105%, 106%, 1 %, 17%, 5%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%, or any value or range contained therein.

[0055] Another embodiment refers to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the microorganism is a strain of C. tofieldiae deposited under deposit number CECT 20833 (C. tofieldiae Ct0861), CECT 20834, CECT 20835, or CECT 20836.

[0056] On May 30, 2013, under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty, three strains of C. tofieldiae were deposited with the International Depository Center "Coleccion Espanola de Cultivos Tipo" (CECT, for its Spanish acronyms), Parc Cientific Universitat de Valencia, Catedratico Agustin Escardino, 9. 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain, and were assigned the deposit numbers CECT 20833 (C. tofieldiae Ct0861), CECT 20834, and CECT 20835. On May 7, 2013, under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty, one strain of C. tofieldiae was deposited with the International Depository "Coleccion Espanola de Cultivos Tipo" (CECT), Science Park of the University of Valencia, Catedrático Agustín Escaldino 9, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain, and was assigned the deposit number CECT 20836.

[0057] These deposits will be irrevocably, without restriction, and without conditions, available to the public upon the issuance of a patent. These deposits are maintained under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. These deposits are made merely as a convenience to those of skill in the art, and do not constitute an admission that a deposit is required under 35 U.S.C. § 112. However, it should be understood that the availability of the deposits does not constitute a license to practice the subject disclosure in derogation of patent rights granted by government action. The deposits will be maintained in the CECT, a public depository, without restriction, for a period of 30 years, or five years from the date of the most recent request, or for the full term of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if unenforceable during that period.

[0058] The microorganisms disclosed herein can be grown on a wide variety of natural or synthetic substrates. For example, they can be grown in various solid or liquid media, such as potato dextrose agar (PDA) or broth (PDB), and can be grown by techniques known to those skilled in the art. They can also be grown on several natural sources, such as leaves of some plants, pollen grains, oat flowers, potatoes, carrots, and cellulose. They can also be grown on artificial sources, such as paper, cardboard, and polymers.

[0059] The medium can be constantly or occasionally stirred during the culture, for example, at about 1 rps, or the culture can be performed with or without stirring. Furthermore, the culture temperature can be in the range of 20 to 30°C.

[0060] Another embodiment refers to the method of the present disclosure, wherein said microorganism is in the form of a spore, hypha, mycelium, or sclerotium.

[0061] Another embodiment refers to the method of the present disclosure, wherein said composition is applied to said plant growing substrate.

[0062] Preferably, the substrate is treated to allow the microorganisms of the present disclosure to grow therein before being used to cultivate plants. Examples of substrate treatment include injecting a liquid into the substrate (by irrigation, pouring, or dripping), spraying, sprinkling, or directly mixing with the substrate. The disclosed method also includes treating a hydroponic medium for hydroponic cultivation. The disclosed method comprises treating a substrate or hydroponic medium with a composition containing mycelium and / or spores and / or any other parts of the disclosed microorganisms at an appropriate concentration, wherein the medium or filtrate according to the present disclosure is in liquid form and / or in solid form such as granules or dust.

[0063] The method of the present disclosure can be carried out by using a composition containing the microorganism of the present disclosure alone or in combination with an inert ingredient. Examples of inert ingredients include fine powders or granules of minerals, clay, bentonite, calcite, diatoms, organic materials such as corn flour or nut shell powder, synthetic organic materials such as urea, salts such as calcium carbonate and ammonium sulfate, synthetic inorganic materials such as silicon oxide, or aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, alkylbenzene, and methylnaphthalene, alcohols such as 2,5-propanol, ethylene glycol, glycol propylene, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ketones such as acetone, cyclohexanone, and isophorone, vegetable oils such as soybean oil and cottonseed oil, aliphatic hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, esters, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and liquid diluents such as water. Examples of surfactants include anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates, alkylaryl sulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether phosphates, lignosulfonates, and formaldehyde polycondensates; nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers, alkyl polyoxypropylene block copolymers, polyoxyethylene, and fatty acid esters; and cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salts. Examples of other auxiliary ingredients include water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone, polysaccharides such as agar, acacia gum, alginic acid and its salts, carboxymethylcellulose, and xanthan gum, inorganic substances such as aluminum silicate and magnesium silicate, preservatives, colorants, and stabilizers such as isopropyl phosphate and BHT.

[0064] Accordingly, another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the composition comprises a mineral, an organic material, an organic compound, an inorganic compound, a liquid diluent, an alcohol, a ketone, a vegetable oil, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, water, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a polysaccharide, a preservative, a colorant, and / or a stabilizer. In particular, the mineral is selected from the group consisting of clay, bentonite, calcite, and diatom, the organic material is selected from the group consisting of corn flour or nut shell flour, the organic compound is urea, the inorganic compound is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, ammonium sulfate, silicon oxide, aluminum, and magnesium silicate, the liquid diluent is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, vegetable oils, esters, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and water, the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfate ester salts, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers, alkyl polyoxypropylene block copolymers, polyoxyethylene, and fatty acid esters, the cationic surfactant is an alkyl trimethylammonium salt, the water-soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone, the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of agar, acacia gum, alginic acid, alginates, carboxymethylcellulose, and xanthan gum, and the stabilizer is isopropyl acid phosphate and BHT. In particular, the aromatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of xylene, alkylbenzene, and methylnaphthalene; the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of 2,5-propanol, ethylene glycol, glycol propylene, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether; the ketone is selected from the group consisting of acetone, cyclohexanone, and isophorone; and the vegetable oil is soybean oil or cottonseed oil.

[0065] Another embodiment refers to the method of the present disclosure, wherein said composition comprises organic irrigation salts, fertilizers, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, bactericides, and / or herbicides.

[0066] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the composition is a liquid, solid, paste, or gel.

[0067] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the composition is in the form of a powder, pastille, tablet, granules, or emulsifiable concentrate.

[0068] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the composition is applied by spraying, atomizing, dipping, irrigating, or dusting.

[0069] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of gymnosperms, monocotyledons, and dicotyledons.

[0070] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the plant is a monocotyledonous plant.

[0071] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the plant is a corn plant (Zea mays).

[0072] Another embodiment relates to the method of the present disclosure, wherein the plant is a tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum).

[0073] In the present disclosure, the plant may be a naturally occurring plant or a transgenic plant.

[0074] Another embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a substrate for growing plants comprising the microorganism C. tofieldiae and / or an extract from said microorganism and / or a filtrate from said microorganism.

[0075] The substrate for growing plants can include spores, mycelium, or other parts of the microorganisms of the present disclosure, or their culture medium or filtrate, or any possible combination of some of these components. The substrate can be liquid or solid.

[0076] Examples of substrates for plant growth include solidified natural or synthetic media, especially those intended for in vitro plant growth. Other examples include soil, sand, humus, peat, or mixtures thereof.

[0077] Another embodiment of the present disclosure refers to the strains of the microorganism C. tofieldiae deposited under deposit numbers CECT 20833 (C. tofieldiae Ct0861), CECT 20834, CECT 20835, and CECT 20836.

[0078] The above summary is not intended to describe each discussed example or every manner of implementing the subject matter herein. The figures and detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various examples. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0079] The subject matter herein will be more fully understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various examples in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0080] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the relative abundance of each genera at harvest in corn kernels treated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 compared to the control. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relative abundance of various amplicon sequence variant (ASV) sequences of the genus Aspergillus in grain samples from plants inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 compared to the control. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a graph showing quantification of Aspergillus flavus biomass using qPCR of ITS DNA in corn kernel samples colonized under LW (limited watering) and OW (optimal watering) conditions. [Figure 4A]Figure 4A shows a representative photograph of a dual culture bioassay of Colletotrichum tofieldiae Ct0861 (left) and Aspergillus flavus CECT 2687 (right) 7 days after confrontation on a PDA plate. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a graph showing mycelial growth on test and control plates over a 7-day period. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a graph showing the quantification by real-time PCR of Botrytis cinerea actin gene DNA versus tomato ubiquitin DNA in leaf disks from mock plants and plants inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 according to the protocol described in Haller et al. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a graph showing the quantification of fumonisins (B1+B2) in grain samples from corn lines that were untreated (control) or treated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 (Ct0861).

[0081] While the various examples are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, details thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will also be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the claimed invention to the particular examples described herein. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter defined by the patent claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0082] Detailed Description Example 1: Determining the relative abundance of fungal genera in grain

[0083] Field-grown maize plants were inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae Ct0861 under optimal irrigation (OW) and limited irrigation (LW) conditions. Inoculated plants were compared with control plants for the relative abundance of 10 fungal genera, including Moesziomyces, Anthracocystis, Kurzmaniella, Meyerozyma, Cladosporium 1, Cladosporium 2, Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus 1, and Aspergillus 2. Plants were treated with C. tofieldiae Ct0861 or control on the seed and foliage, and measurements were taken at harvest.

[0084] Figure 1 shows the relative abundance of each genera in the kernels at harvest from corn plants treated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae Ct0861 compared to the control. The relative abundance of Aspergillus from inoculated plants was significantly reduced compared to the control.

[0085] Figure 2 shows the relative abundance of various amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of the Aspergillus genus in grain samples from plants inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 compared with the control. The difference between the control and inoculated samples was particularly pronounced in the OW regime, where the mean relative abundance of Aspergillus spp. reached 16.5% in the control grain and only 1% in the inoculated grain (t-test, t = 5.7, P < 0.001). The mean relative abundance of Aspergillus spp. in the inoculated plants in the LW regime was also significantly reduced compared with the control (t-test, t = 2.5, P = 0.02).

[0086] In the Aspergillus spp. dataset, sequences corresponding to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were the most abundant, accounting for 71% and 26% of the Aspergillus abundance in the grain samples, respectively. A. flavus is an important mycotoxigenic fungus, particularly due to its production of aflatoxins (Pfliegler et al., 2020 Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 2921). A. niger is a common contaminant of corn, producing the mycotoxins fumonisin B1, B2, and B4, and, in some strains, ochratoxin A (Ismail, 2017 Food Control 73, 492-496). The relative abundance of A. flavus was significantly lower in grain from inoculated plants compared with that of the control (t-test, t = 4.2, P < 0.001), with a 3% decrease in relative abundance in the OW condition (WMW test, Z = 2.7305, P = 0.006) and a 1.4% decrease in relative abundance in the LW condition (t-test, t = 2.5, P = 0.026). A. niger was present at a relative abundance of 12% in control grain in the OW condition, which decreased to 0.03% in the inoculated samples (WMW test, Z = 3.4, P < 0.001), but no difference was observed in the LW condition.

[0087] The relative abundance of Penicillium spp. in grain samples was also significantly different between the inoculated and control strains, with a 100-fold decrease in relative abundance (WMW test, Z = 3.1, P = 0.002).

[0088] Example 2: Biomass quantification of A. flavus by real-time PCR

[0089] Mideros et al. 2009 (Plant Disease - 93. 1163-1170) showed that Aspergillus flavus biomass in corn kernels correlates strongly with aflatoxin concentration. Real-time PCR quantification of A. flavus from corn kernels was performed using the protocol described in Mideros et al. 2009. Real-time PCR results confirmed the results of Example 1 for A. flavus in OW conditions, demonstrating significant differences between treatments (Figure 3). Mideros et al. 2009 showed that the amount of A. flavus measured using the protocol described herein is proportional to aflatoxin concentration. Therefore, in this example, aflatoxin concentrations would be proportionally reduced in samples inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861.

[0090] Figure 3 shows quantification of A. flavus biomass by qPCR of ITS DNA in corn kernel samples colonized under LW and OW conditions. Under OW conditions, inoculation with Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 significantly reduced A. flavus compared to the control.

[0091] Example 3: Evaluation of the possible direct effect of Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 on Aspergillus flavus

[0092] To assess whether the effects of C. tofieldiae strain Ct0861 were due to direct potency, antimicrobial activity, or predation against A. flavus, a dual-culture bioassay was performed using the A. flavus aflatoxin-producing chromosome CECT 2687. The assay used the protocol described by Moreno-Gavira et al. 2021 (J. Fungi 7, 415), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0093] After 7 days of co-cultivation, the growth of A. flavus CECT 2687 was not reduced, as shown in Figure 4. The control plates containing two plugs of A. flavus showed greater growth inhibition than the test plates containing A. flavus CECT 2687 and C. tofieldiae Ct0861. Furthermore, C. tofieldiae Ct0861 DNA was not detected in the corn samples used for A. flavus biomass quantification, suggesting that the observed effect was not due to direct fungal interaction.

[0094] Example 4: Tomato roots inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae showed less growth of the fungus Botrytis cinerea.

[0095] Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds were sterilized and germinated in filter paper. Roots were extracted from 10 of the Ct0861 plants after one week of growth. 6 by immersion in a solution containing conidia at 1000 / ml. The plants were inoculated with Colletotrichum tofieldiae or dipped in water for mock treatment. 6 By adding two 10μ droplets of conidia / ml After 72 hours, 5 mm diameter circular leaf pieces were excised from each Botrytis lesion, and fungal and plant DNA were quantified by real-time PCR according to the protocol described by Haller et al. (2020) Front. Plant Sci. 11:594827.

[0096] Figure 5 shows that the amount of Botrytis accumulated in the lesions of the plants inoculated with Ct0861 was reduced by 49% compared to the mock plant.

[0097] Example 5: Measurement of mycotoxins and fumonisins in grains

[0098] Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain Ct0861 was applied to corn plants at planting in a replicated small-plot field trial and compared to an untreated control. Grains from C. tofieldiae strain Ct0861 and untreated control plants were harvested and analyzed for the concentration of mycotoxins fumonisins (B1 + B2). Fumonisins B1 and B2 were extracted with acidified acetonitrile and then detected using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS / MS), using two mass spectrometers operating in series, as known to those skilled in the art.

[0099] Figure 6 shows the fumonisin (B1 + B2) concentrations in corn kernels at harvest treated with C. tofieldiae Ct0861 compared to the control. The inoculated strains showed a significant reduction in fumonisins (B1 + B2) compared to the control.

[0100] The results of Examples 1, 2, and 4 demonstrate that Colletotrichum tofieldiae Ct0861 is effective in suppressing the growth of virulent fungi, particularly Aspergillus species in corn kernels and Botrytis cinerea in tomato leaves. Example 5 shows that this reduction correlates with a decrease in aflatoxin content in corn kernels. This effect is not due to a direct interaction between C. tofieldiae Ct0861 and A. flavus in the kernel (Example 3), but rather to the induction of plant resistance, which is thought to be a characteristic of C. tofieldiae Ct0861. C. tofieldiae Ct0861 present in plant roots is known to induce an Arabidopsis immune pathway in leaves, which relies on glucosinolate metabolism and salicylic acid and ethylene signaling (Frerigmann et al. 2021 Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 34:5, 560-570). In maize, salicylic acid and steroid signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the long-lasting priming state of maize caused by Tichoderma harziamm, which may activate defense responses in maize silk and protect kernels from fungal infection (Agostini et al. 2019 Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 32:1, 95-106). In tomato, irrigation with hexanoic acid induced resistance and suppressed the growth of B. cinerea inoculated onto leaves (Vicedo et al. MPMI Vol. 22, No. 11, 2009, pp. 1455-1465. Doi:10.1094 / MPMI). A similar effect may be seen with C. tofieldiae strain Ct0861.Zahra et al. (2023) Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 127: 102125 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) show that signal transduction and transcriptional regulation in induced resistance processes are similarly involved in tolerance to abiotic stress (see page 7).

[0101] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are provided by way of example only and are not intended to limit the claimed disclosure. Furthermore, it should be understood that various features of the previously described embodiments can be combined in various ways to create numerous additional embodiments. Furthermore, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations, locations, etc. have been described for use with the disclosed embodiments, others than those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the claimed disclosure.

[0102] Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter herein may consist of fewer features than those described in the above-described embodiments. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be an exhaustive list of ways in which various features of the subject matter herein may be combined. Thus, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, various embodiments may consist of combinations of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. Furthermore, elements described with respect to one embodiment may be implemented in other embodiments, even if not described in other embodiments, unless otherwise specified.

[0103] Although a dependent claim may refer to a specific combination with one or more other claims in the claims, other embodiments may include combinations of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim, or combinations of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims, and such combinations are also proposed herein unless it is stated that a particular combination is not intended.

[0104] The incorporation by reference of any document above is limited to not incorporating subject matter contrary to the express disclosure herein. The incorporation by reference of any document above is further limited to not incorporating by reference any claims contained in that document herein. The incorporation by reference of any document above is further limited to not incorporating by reference any definition set forth in that document herein, unless that definition is expressly included herein.

[0105] Unless the context indicates otherwise, it is specifically intended that the various features of the present disclosure described herein can be used in any combination.Furthermore, the present disclosure also contemplates that in some embodiments of the present disclosure, any feature or combination of features described herein can be excluded or omitted.For example, if a composition is described herein as consisting of components A, B, and C, it is specifically intended that any of A, B, or C, or any combination thereof, can be omitted and dispensed with, singly or in any combination.

[0106] The terms "comprising," "having," and "including" should be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to") unless otherwise noted. The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each individual value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each individual value is incorporated herein as if each individual value were set forth individually herein. For example, if a range of 10 to 15 is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed. 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 examples or exemplary language (e.g., "etc.") herein is intended merely to clarify the disclosure and does not limit the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise asserted. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.

[0107] As used in the description of this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0108] Also, as used herein, "and / or" refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and also includes the absence of a combination when interpreted in the alternative ("or").

[0109] The term "about" when used herein in reference to a measurable value such as an amount or concentration is meant to encompass not only the specified value but also a variation of ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or ±0.1% of the specified value. For example, "about X," where X is a measurable value, means not only X but also a variation of ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or even ±0.1% of X.

[0110] As used herein, phrases such as "between X and Y" or "between about X and Y" should be interpreted to include X and Y. A phrase such as "between about X and Y" means "between about X and about Y," and a phrase such as "from about X to Y" means "from about X to about Y."

[0111] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "comprising," and "having" specify the presence of stated features, units, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, units, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0112] The transitional phrase "consisting essentially of" as used herein means that the claims should be construed to include the particular materials or steps recited in the claims that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed disclosure. Thus, the term "consisting essentially of" as used in the claims of this disclosure is not intended to be interpreted as the same as "consisting of."

[0113] As used herein, the terms "increase," "enhance," and "enhance" (and grammatical variations thereof) refer to an increase of at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500% or more compared to a control.

[0114] As used herein, the terms "reduce," "reduce" (and grammatical variations thereof) refer to a decrease of, for example, 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 certain embodiments, a decrease can result in no or essentially no detectable activity or amount (i.e., a negligible amount, e.g., less than about 10%, or less than 5%).

[0115] As used herein, a "plant" can be, but is not limited to, any monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plant, and any annual and perennial dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plant. Examples of plants include, but are not limited to, 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, Caricapapaya、Carya、Chestnut、Cinnamomum、Citrullus、Citrus、Coconuts、Coffea、Colocasia、Cola、Coriandrum、Coryl us, Crataegus, Crocus, Cucurbit, Cucumis, Cynara, Daucus, Desmodium, Dimocarpus, Dioscorea, Diospyros, E chinochloa、Elaeis、Eleusine、Eriobotrya、Eugenia、Fagopyrum、Fagus、Ficus、Fortunella、Fragaria、Ginkgo Hemerocallis, Hibiscus, Ipomoea, Juglans, Lactuca, Lathyrus, Lens, Linum, Litchi, Lotus, Lupinus, Luzula. Malus, Malpighia, Mammea, Mangifera, Manihot, Manilkara, Medicago, Melilotus, Mentha, Miscanthus, Musa, N icotiana、Olea、Opuntia、Ornithopus、Panicum、Passiflora、Persea、Phaseolus、Pinus、Pistacia、Pisum、Poa、P rosopis, Prunus, Quercus, Raphanus, Rheum, Ribe, Rubus, Sambucus, Secale, Sesame, Sinapis, Solanum, Sorgh um, Spinach, Tamarindus, Theobroma, Trifolium, Tropaeolum, Vaccinium, Vigna, Vitis, Zizania, Ziziphus The extracts of Sorghum, Saccharum, and Lycopersicum are typical of the genus Liliatae Glycine, Vitis, Asparagus, Populus, Penn isetum, Lolium, Oryza, Zea, Oats, Hordeum, Secale, Triticum, Sorg hum, Saccharum, a genus of Lycopersicum, and a genus of Liliatae.

[0116] As used herein, "parts thereof" includes, but is not limited to, reproductive tissue of a plant (e.g., petals, sepals, stamens, pistils, zygotes, anthers, pollen, flowers, fruits, flower buds, ovaries, seeds, embryos, nuts, pits, bulbs, panicles, cobs, husks, etc.), plant vegetative tissue (e.g., petioles, stems, roots, root hairs, root tips, pith, petioles, stems, shoots, branches, bark, apical meristems, axillary buds, cotyledons, hypocotyls, leaves, etc.), vascular tissue of a plant (e.g., phloem, xylem, etc.), specialized plant cells such as epidermal cells, parenchyma cells, gelatin cells, ethmoid cells, stomata, guard cells, cuticle, mesophyll cells, callus tissue, cuttings, etc. This also includes plant cells (intact plant cells in plants and / or plant parts), plant protoplasts, plant tissues, plant organs, plant cell tissue cultures, plant callus, plant mass, and the like.

[0117] As used herein, "growth medium" includes, but is not limited to, soil, synthetic growth medium, and / or an aqueous solution (e.g., hydroponic solution) in which a plant is planted. The growth medium can be treated / contacted with a composition comprising C. tofieldiae before and / or after planting seedlings or sowing seeds, including spraying or irrigating the growth medium with the composition comprising C. tofieldiae. For example, a composition comprising C. tofieldiae formulated as a liquid or solid formulation, e.g., a granule, can be applied to the soil surrounding the seedlings before, during, and / or after planting. In some embodiments, both the growth medium and the plant or plant part planted or sown therein can be treated / contacted with the composition comprising C. tofieldiae.

[0118] As used herein, the term "abiotic stress" refers to external, non-living factors that can adversely affect plants. Therefore, as used herein, abiotic stress includes, but is not limited to, low temperatures resulting in freezing, cold, high temperatures or high temperatures, water stress, high light intensity, low light intensity, salinity, waterlogging (overwatering / flooding), ozone, and / or combinations thereof. Abiotic stressor parameters are species- and even cultivar-specific, and therefore vary significantly depending on the species / cultivar exposed to the abiotic stress. Thus, some species may be severely affected at temperatures as high as 23°C, while others may not be affected until temperatures reach at least 30°C. Above 30°C, yields of most plants decrease dramatically. This is due to a decline in photosynthesis, which begins at approximately 20–25°C, and the increased carbohydrate requirements of crops grown at higher temperatures. Critical temperatures are not absolute and vary depending on factors such as plant acclimation to prevailing environmental conditions. Furthermore, most plants are exposed to multiple abiotic stresses at once, and interactions between stresses affect plant responses. Therefore, the specific parameters that affect plant productivity, such as high / low temperatures, light intensity, and water stress, vary with species, cultivar, degree of acclimation, and exposure to a combination of environmental conditions.

[0119] For purposes of claim interpretation, the express intent is that no provision of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) is intended to be invoked unless the claim contains the specific words "means for" or "step for."

Claims

1. 1. A method for reducing plant disease, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of contacting a plant with a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae or an extract or filtrate thereof.

2. 1. A method for reducing abiotic stress, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of contacting a plant with a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae or an extract or filtrate thereof.

3. 1. A method for inhibiting fungal colonization of a plant or plant-derived product, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of contacting a plant with a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae or an extract or filtrate thereof.

4. 1. A method for reducing mycotoxins in a plant or plant-derived product, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of contacting a plant with a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae or an extract or filtrate thereof.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the microorganism is a Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain deposited under deposit number CECT 20833, CECT 20834, CECT 20835 or CECT 20836.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the microorganism is in the form of a spore, hypha, mycelium, or sclerotium.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the fungus comprises any of Alternaria spp., Phytophthora spp., Penicillium spp., Colletotrichum spp., Fusarium spp., Botrytis spp., Cephalosporium spp., and Aspergillus spp.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied to the seeds of the plant.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied to the above-ground parts of the plant.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied to the roots or other underground parts of the plant.

11. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied to the soil, field, other matrix, or other underground part of the plant.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied to a substrate for growing the plant.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied to the grain of the plant.

14. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition comprises a mineral, an organic material, an organic compound, an inorganic compound, a liquid diluent, an alcohol, a ketone, a vegetable oil, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, water, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, a polysaccharide, a preservative, a colorant, and / or a stabilizer.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, the mineral is selected from the group consisting of clay, bentonite, calcite, and diatomaceous earth; the organic material is selected from the group consisting of corn flour or nut skin flour; the organic compound is urea, the inorganic compound is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, ammonium sulfate, silicon oxide, aluminum, and magnesium silicate; the liquid diluent is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, vegetable oils, esters, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and water; the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of salts of alkyl sulfates; Alkylaryl sulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl phosphate ether ester salts, lignosulfonates, formaldehyde polycondensates, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether, alkyl polyoxypropylene block copolymer, polyoxyethylene, and fatty acid ester; the cationic surfactant is an alkyltrimethylammonium salt, the water-soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone; the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of agar, acacia, alginic acid, alginates, carboxymethylcellulose, and xanthan gum; The method wherein the stabilizer is isopropyl acid phosphate or BHT.

16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of xylene, alkylbenzene, and methylnaphthalene, the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of 2-5 propanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, the ketone is selected from the group consisting of acetone, cyclohexanone, and isophorone, and the vegetable oil is soybean oil or cottonseed oil.

17. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition comprises a fertilizer, a fertilizer, an insecticide, a nematicide, a fungicide, a bactericide, or a herbicide.

18. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition comprises beneficial microorganisms, optionally the beneficial microorganisms being Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Azotobacter spp, Rhizobium spp, Azorhizobium spp, Chaetomium spp, Streptomyces spp, Trichoderma spp., and / or mycorrhizal fungi.

19. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is a liquid, a solid, a paste, or a gel.

20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is a powder, pill, tablet, granule, or emulsifiable concentrate.

21. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the composition is applied by spraying, milling, dipping, dredging, basal application, top dressing, side dressing, dusting, localized composite application, banding or spot application, liquid or dry application in a starter solution, liquid or dry application in a drench, liquid or dry application in an injection, liquid or dry application to the soil, liquid or dry application to the foliage, or dusting.

22. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant or plant-derived product is a gymnosperm or a dicotyledonous plant.

23. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant or plant-derived product is from the Brassicaceae family.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant or plant-derived product is derived from a monocotyledonous plant.

25. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant or plant-derived product is derived from corn (Zea mays).

26. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant or plant-derived product is derived from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

27. 1. A method for reducing mycotoxin contamination of a plant or plant-derived product, comprising: A method comprising contacting a plant with a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae or an extract or filtrate thereof.

28. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the microorganism is in the form of a spore, hypha, mycelium, or sclerotium.

29. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the microorganism is a Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain deposited under deposit number CECT 20833, CECT 20834, CECT 20835, or CECT 20836.

30. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the mycotoxin comprises an aflatoxin, a fumonisin, an ochratoxin, a citrinin, a patulin, a sterigmatocystin, a gliotoxin, a zearalenone, a trichothecene, a nivalenol, or a deoxynivalenol.

31. 1. A kit for mitigating disease, abiotic stress, fungal colonization or mycotoxins in a plant or plant-derived product, comprising: a composition comprising the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae; and instructions for applying said composition to said plant or plant-derived product.

32. 32. The kit of claim 31, wherein the composition comprises an extract or filtrate of the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae.

33. 32. The kit of claim 31, wherein the microorganism is in the form of a spore, hypha, mycelium, or sclerotium.

34. 32. The kit of claim 31 , wherein the microorganism is a Colletotrichum tofieldiae strain deposited under deposit number CECT 20833, CECT 20834, CECT 20835, or CECT 20836.

35. 1. A method for reducing plant disease, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of providing a composition of the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae, an extract of said microorganism, or a filtrate of said microorganism.

36. 1. A method for reducing abiotic stress, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of providing a composition of the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae, an extract of said microorganism, or a filtrate of said microorganism.

37. 1. A method for inhibiting fungal colonization of a plant or plant-derived product, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of providing a composition of the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae, an extract of said microorganism, or a filtrate of said microorganism.

38. 1. A method for reducing mycotoxins contained in a plant or a plant-derived product, comprising:

1. A method comprising the step of providing a composition of the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae, an extract of said microorganism, or a filtrate of said microorganism.

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