Method for increasing plant growth using the fungus
A novel strain of Trichoderma harzianum called TSTh20-1 is described. TSTh20-1 is useful in promoting plant growth, increasing water use efficiency of plants and in remediation of soil or water.
1. An isolated Trichoderma harzianum strain TSTh20-1, which has been deposited at America Type Culture Collection under Patent Deposit Designation number PTA-10317 on Sep. 2, 2009 and its progeny and spores thereof.
2. A composition comprising an isolated Trichoderma harzianum fungus TSTh20-1 and its progeny and spores thereof and, optionally, a carrier.
3. The composition of claim 2 , which is in a fluid form suitable for spray application or dip application or for coating seeds.
4. The composition of claim 2 , which is in a paste-like form.
5. The composition of claim 2 , which is in a substantially dry and powdered form for dusting.
6. A method of promoting plant growth, comprising inoculating a plant with the isolated TSTh20-1 of claim 1 .
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plant growth occurs under conditions of abiotic stress.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the conditions of abiotic stress comprise the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), napthenic acids (NAs), or a pH of at least 8.3.
9. A method of increasing water use efficiency of a plant, comprising inoculating a plant with the isolated TSTh20-1 of claim 1 .
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising growing said plant in soil or water.
11. A method of remediation of soil or water, comprising inoculating a plant with the isolated TSTh20-1 of claim 1 .
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the soil or water comprises polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), napthenic acids (NAs), or a pH of at least 8.3.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant growth occurs on oil tailing sands.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plant inoculated is an agricultural plant.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the agricultural plant is selected from the group of plants comprising tomato plants, rice plants, maize plants, watermelon plants, squash plants, turf and wheat.
16. The method of claim 6 , wherein said fungus is applied to an ungerminated seeds that will give rise to said plant.