Methods of screening for microorganisms that impart beneficial properties to plants

1. A method for the selection of one or more microorganisms capable of improving nitrogen availability to a plant through improved nitrogen fixation, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a first combination of microorganisms, wherein some microorganisms within the first combination impart improved nitrogen fixation to a plant, and some microorganisms within the first combination do not impart improved nitrogen fixation to a plant;

b) subjecting a first group of one or more plants to a growth medium in the presence of the first combination of microorganisms;

c) selecting a second group of one or more plants from the first group of one or more plants based upon one or more desirable traits exhibited by the second group relative to other plants of the first group, wherein the desirable traits comprise phenotypic evidence of improved nitrogen availability;

d) acquiring a second combination of one or more microorganisms from the second group of one or more plants, wherein the second combination is enriched with the microorganisms from the first combination that impart improved nitrogen fixation to a plant;

e) repeating steps b) to d) one or more times, wherein:

(i) the second combination of one or more microorganisms acquired in step d) is used as the first combination of one or more microorganisms in step b) of any successive repeat; and

(ii) the second combination is further enriched with the microorganisms from the first combination that impart improved nitrogen fixation to a plant; and

f) selecting one or more microorganisms that impart improved nitrogen fixation to a plant from the second combination acquired in step d).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of subjecting a first group of one or more plants to a growth medium involves growing or multiplying the plant.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of subjecting a first group of one or more plants to a growth medium comprises subjecting two or more plants to a growth medium in the presence of the first combination of microorganisms.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second group of one or more plants is selected on the basis of one or more selection criterion.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the desirable traits are desirable phenotypic traits.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the desirable traits are desirable genotypic traits.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the desirable traits are a combination of one or more desirable genotypic and one or more desirable phenotypic traits.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second combination of one or more microorganisms is acquired in crude form.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second combination of one or more microorganisms comprises two or more microorganisms, and the method further comprises separating the two or more microorganisms of the second combination into individual isolates, selecting two or more individual isolates, and then combining the selected two or more individual isolates to produce a combined isolate.

10. The method according claim 9 , wherein the combined isolate is used as the first combination in step b) of any successive repeat of the method.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein two or more steps of the method are performed separately and the second combination of one or more microorganisms acquired in step d) of each separate method are combined.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the combined microorganisms are used as the first combination of one or more microorganisms in step b) of any successive repeat of the method.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein plant material is used as the source of microorganisms for step a).

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method selects for one or more unculturable microorganisms.

15. A method for the production of a composition to support plant growth, quality, and/or health, the method comprising the method of claim 1 , and the additional step of combining the one or more microorganisms selected in step f) of the method with one or more additional ingredients.

16. A method for the selection of a composition which is capable of improving nitrogen availability to a plant through improved nitrogen fixation, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) culturing one or more microorganisms selected in step f) of the method of claim 1 in one or more medias to provide one or more cultures;

b) separating the one or more microorganisms from the one or more medias in the one or more cultures after a period of time to provide one or more compositions substantially free of microorganisms;

c) subjecting one or more plants to the one or more compositions of step b); and

d) selecting one or more compositions from step c) based upon an observed ability to impart one or more beneficial phenotypes to the one or more plants.

17. A method for the selection of a composition which is capable of improving nitrogen availability to a plant through improved nitrogen fixation, the method comprising at least the steps of:

a) culturing one or more microorganisms selected in step f) of the method of claim 1 in one or more medias to form one or more cultures;

b) inactivating the one or more cultures of step a) to provide one or more compositions containing one or more inactivated microorganisms;

c) subjecting one or more plants to the one or more compositions of step b); and

d) selecting one or more compositions from step c) based upon an observed ability to impart one or more beneficial phenotypes to the one or more plants.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first group of one or more plants and/or the growth medium in step b) are sterile prior to an addition of the first combination of one or more microorganisms.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more desirable traits exhibited by the plant include an increase in the number of nodules on the roots of the plant.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more desirable traits exhibited by the plant include an increase in the efficiency in nitrogen utilization.