Sandpaper mutants of
The present invention relates to novel strains of Bacillus and methods of their use for enhancing the growth, promoting plant health or controlling diseases or pests of a plant.
1. swrA mutant cells of Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under the accession number NRRL B-50420, wherein the mutant cells consist of a base pair deletion at position 26 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
2. The swrA mutant cells of the Bacillus subtilis QST713, wherein the mutant cells are of the strain AQ30002 or QST30002 deposited under the accession number NRRL B-50421.
3. A composition comprising spore-forming bacterial cells, wherein at least 25% of the total spore-forming bacterial cells in the composition are the swrA mutant cells of claim 1 .
4. A composition comprising mutant cells derived from Bacillus subtilis QST713 cells deposited under the accession number NRRL B-50420, wherein the mutant cells have a mutation in the swrA gene, wherein the mutation is a base pair deletion at position 26 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and wherein the mutant cells have the ability to form a compact biofilm on a plant surface, the ability to enhance the health of a plant, and/or the ability to increase the yield of a plant compared to the Bacillus subtilis QST713 cells having the wild type swrA gene.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the mutant cells are of the strain AQ30002 or QST30002 deposited under the accession number NRRL B-50421.
6. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises at least one carrier.
7. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the composition further comprises an active ingredient in addition to the mutant cells.
8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the active ingredient is a chemical or another strain of bacteria.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a herbicide, a fungicide, a bactericide, an insecticide, a nematicide, a miticide, a plant growth regulator, a plant growth stimulant, and a fertilizer.