Biological Control of Plant Pathogenic Microorganisms
The present invention relates to the use of an isolated Aureobasidium pullulans yeast strain YBCA5 as a biological control agent. Processes and compositions for the biological control of phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi using YBCA5 are also provided.
1 - 24 . (canceled)
25 . A composition comprising Aureobasidium pullulans yeast strain YBCA5 (CBS Accession # 141880) and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.
26 . The composition of claim 25 wherein YBCA5 is present in the form of reproductively viable cells.
27 . The composition of claim 25 , wherein the concentration of YBCA5 viable cells ranges from about 1×10 5 to about 1×10 11 CFU per gram for solid compositions, and about 1×10 7 to about 1×10 8 CFU per millilitre for liquid compositions.
28 . The composition of claim 25 , wherein the concentration of YBCA5 viable cells ranges from about 2×10 7 to about 2×10 8 CFU per gram for solid compositions, and about 1×10 7 to about 1×10 8 CFU per millilitre for liquid compositions.
29 . The composition of claim 25 , wherein the concentration of YBCA5 viable cells ranges from about 2×10 9 to about 2×10 10 CFU per gram for solid compositions, and about 1×10 7 to about 1×10 8 CFU per millilitre for liquid compositions.
30 . The composition of claim 25 , further comprising at least one agriculturally acceptable adjuvant.
31 . A method of controlling Pseudomonas spp. bacteria on a plant or part thereof, the method comprising contacting the plant or part thereof with YBCA5, or a composition of claim 25 .
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one strain of Pseudomonas spp. bacteria is a strain of bacteria selected from the group consisting of P. syringae, P. amygdalia, P. avellanae, P. caricapapayae, P. cichorii, P. coronafaciens, P. ficuserectae, P. helianthi, P. lemiae, P. savastanoi , and P. viridiflava , or a pathovar thereof, or combinations thereof,
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one strain of Pseudomonas spp. bacteria is P. syringae or a pathovar thereof.
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one strain of Pseudomonas spp. bacteria is P. syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa).
35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the plant or part thereof is an agriculturally important plant, cultivar thereof, or product thereof, selected from olive trees, apple trees, pear trees, citrus fruit trees, banana trees, pineapple trees, peach trees, apricot trees, cherry trees, walnut trees and hazelnut trees, wherein the products thereof are olives, apples, pears, citrus fruits, bananas, pineapples, peaches, apricots, cherries, walnuts and hazelnuts, respectively.
36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the plant or part thereof is an agriculturally important plant, cultivar thereof, or product thereof, selected from potato vines, beetroot vines, bean vines, pea vines, tomato vines, cucumber vines, melon vines, berry vines, grape vines and kiwifruit vines, and the products thereof are potatoes, beetroots, beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, berries, grapes and kiwifruits, respectively.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the agriculturally important plant, cultivar thereof, or product thereof, is a kiwifruit vine or cultivar thereof, and the product is kiwifruit.
38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the kiwifruit vine is selected from the group consisting of species of green-fleshed kiwifruit ( Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa ), golden kiwifruit ( A. chinensis var. chinensis ), Chinese egg gooseberry ( A. coriacea ), baby kiwifruit ( A. arguta ), Arctic kiwifruit ( A. kolomikta ), red kiwifruit ( A. melanandra, A. chinensis var. chinensis ), silver vine ( A. polygama ), and purple kiwifruit ( A. purpurea ) or a cultivar thereof.
39 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the kiwifruit are selected from the group consisting of A. chinensis var. deliciosa and A. chinensis var. chinensis species or a cultivar thereof.
40 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the kiwifruit is a ‘Hayward’, ‘Hort16A’ or ‘Hongyang’ variety cultivar.
41 . A method of controlling at least one phytopathogenic fungus on a plant or part thereof, the method comprising contacting the plant or part thereof with YBCA5, or a composition of claim 25 .
42 . A method of claim 41 , wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is a Monilinia spp. Fungus.
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is Monilinia fruticola.
44 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the phytopathogenic fungus is selected from the group consisting of Botrytis spp., Colletotrichum spp., Penicillium spp., Phomopsis spp., Alternaria spp., Sclerotinia spp., and Cryptosporiopsis spp. fungus.