Methods of use of seed-origin endophyte populations

摘要

This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed or seedling of an agricultural plant (e.g., an agricultural grass plant), or the agricultural plant derived from the seed or seedling. For example, this application provides purified bacterial populations that include novel seed-origin bacterial endophytes, and synthetic combinations of seeds and/or seedlings (e.g., cereal seeds and/or seedlings) with heterologous seed-derived bacterial endophytes.

主权项

1. A method for increasing tolerance to drought of a cereal agricultural plant, said method comprising:
(a) contacting seed of said plant with a composition comprising a purified bacterial population that comprises a first bacterial endophyte and a second bacterial endophyte, wherein the first bacterial endophyte and second bacterial endophyte has a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least 97% identical to a 16S nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 521, 533, 560, 588, 658, and 856, wherein the first bacterial endophyte and the second bacterial endophyte are of different genera and have different 16S nucleic acid sequence, (b) and growing said seed to produce plants colonized with the endophyte bacteria, wherein the plants have increased tolerance to drought stress as compared to a reference plant grown under the same conditions.