Inoculants including
Disclosed are inoculants that include Bacillus bacteria and induce production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a plant that has been treated with the inoculant.
1. A composition for treating a plant, the composition formulated as a plant treatment composition in which are combined:
(a) isolated Bacillus simplex strain ABU 288 (NRRL B-50340) and
(b) a suitable carrier,
the composition comprising 10 2 -10 12 cfu per ml carrier, and the composition inducing production of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a plant that has been treated with the composition.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more VOCs comprise one or more compounds selected from a group consisting of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-myrcene, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, limonene, beta-ocimene, linalool, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, methyl salicylate, decanal, cis-jasmone, caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, beta-farnesene, and mixtures thereof.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more VOCs reduce egg-laying of a herbivorous insect on the plant.
4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more VOCs reduce feeding of a herbivorous insect on the plant.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more VOCs attract a predator or a parasitoid to the plant.
6. A method of modifying insect behavior towards a plant, the method comprising a administering the composition of claim 1 to the plant, to seeds of the plant, or to soil surrounding the plant.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the insect, is an herbivore and the method reduces egg-laying, of the insect on the plant.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the insect is an herbivore and the method reduces feeding of the insect on the plant.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the insect is a predator or a parasitoid and the method attracts the predator or parasitoid to the plant.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, rice, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, corn, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, lentil chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, soybean, canola, oil seed rape, spring wheat, winter wheat, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, and sugarcane.
11. Plant seeds coated with a composition for treating a plant, the composition formulated as a plant treatment composition in which are combined:
(a) isolated Bacillus simplex strain ABU 288 (NRRL B-50340) and
(b) a suitable carrier,
the composition inducing production of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a plant that has been treated with the inoculant composition, wherein the plant seeds are coated with the composition at a concentration of 10 2 -10 8 cfu per seed.
12. The plant seeds of claim 11 , wherein the plant seeds are of a plant selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, rice, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, corn, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, lentil chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, soybean, canola, oil seed rape, spring wheat, winter wheat, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, and sugarcane.
13. A composition for treating a plant, the composition formulated as a plant treatment composition in which are combined:
(a) isolated Bacillus simplex strain ABU 288 (NRRL B-50340) and
(b) a suitable carrier selected from the group consisting of peat, wheat, bran, vermiculite, and pasteurized soil,
the composition comprising 10 2 -10 12 cfu per ml carrier, and the composition inducing production of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a plant that has been treated with the inoculant composition.