Compositions and methods to reduce the population of wheat-stem sawfly and hessian fly
Inventors
Jaronski, Stefan • Reddy, Gadi
Assignees
Montana State University Bozeman • US Department of Agriculture USDA
Publication Number
US-10531666-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-14
Expiration Date
2038-05-07
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
Novel strains of Beauveria pseudobassiana, B. amorpha, B. bassiana, Metarhizium pemphigi, and M. anisopliae have been isolated from wheat stem sawfly and demonstrated to endophytically colonize wheat and kill wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae diapausing in the stems of the wheat. Biocontrol compositions containing at least one of these fungal strains in an effective amount to kill wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae are generated. One can apply at least of these fungal strains or a biocontrol composition containing at least one of these fungal strains to a grain crop field or land where wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae live in order to kill the larvae and to reduce the population of the diapausing wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae.
Core Innovation
This invention provides biocontrol compositions comprising novel strains of endophytic fungi, specifically Beauveria pseudobassiana (strains CT01 and CT10), Beauveria amorpha (strain CT14), Beauveria bassiana (strains 15CT13, 15CT44, and 16WS07), Metarhizium pemphigi (strains CT19 and WS64), and Metarhizium anisopliae (strain 16WS10). These fungal strains are capable of endophytically colonizing wheat and other grain crops and are highly effective in killing larvae of the wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly that dwell and diapause within plant stems.
The patent addresses the problem of managing wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly infestations, which are significant pests causing considerable yield loss in wheat and related crops. Existing management approaches are limited to partial solutions such as resistant cultivars and crop rotation, which have drawbacks, and chemical pesticides are largely ineffective or economically unsustainable.
The core innovation lies in developing methods and compositions for applying these endophytic fungi to plants, seeds, soil, or areas where wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae reside. The fungi colonize the plant internally, thereby directly contacting and killing the larvae within the stems, which conventional surface-applied biopesticides and insecticides cannot achieve. This provides a non-chemical approach to larval population reduction and crop protection, encompassing various application forms such as foliar spray, seed coating, soil drench, and pelletized formulations.
Claims Coverage
There are two primary independent inventive features defined in the claims.
Biocontrol composition with specific endophytic fungi for killing wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae
A biocontrol composition comprising an agriculturally acceptable carrier and an effective amount of at least one endophytic fungal strain that kills wheat stem sawfly larvae and Hessian fly larvae. The endophytic fungal strain is selected from the group consisting of: - Beauveria pseudobassiana strain CT01 (NRRL Access. No. 67405) - Beauveria pseudobassiana strain CT10 (NRRL Access. No. 67401) - Beauveria amorpha strain CT14 (NRRL Access. No. 67402) - Beauveria bassiana strain 15CT13 (NRRL Access. No. 67609) - Beauveria bassiana strain 15CT44 (NRRL Access. No. 67610) - Beauveria bassiana strain 16WS07 (NRRL Access. No. 67611) - Metarhizium pemphigi strain CT19 (NRRL Access. No. 67403) - Metarhizium pemphigi strain WS64 (NRRL Access. No. 67404) - Metarhizium anisopliae strain 16WS10 (NRRL Access. No. 67612) The composition enables delivery of these fungi via a wide range of agriculturally acceptable carriers, including polymers, oils, waxes, emulsions, aqueous solutions, agar, gelatin, or plant seeds.
Kit containing endophytic fungi and application instructions for reducing pest larvae
A kit comprising: - A first container containing at least one endophytic fungus (one or more of the specified strains above) that kills wheat stem sawfly larvae or Hessian fly larvae - Optionally, a second container containing an agriculturally acceptable carrier (e.g., polymer, vegetable oil, wax, emulsion, agar, gelatin, or lipophilic substance) - Instructions for applying the at least one endophytic fungus to land or a plant The kit may provide the fungus as spores or vegetative mycelium, allowing users to prepare and administer the biocontrol compositions against wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae.
The inventive features claim specific biocontrol compositions containing novel strains of endophytic fungi for insect control in grain crops, as well as kits for applying these compositions with appropriate carriers and instructions.
Stated Advantages
The endophytic colonization provides more stable and sustained protection against insect pests than normal foliar application, as fungi remain inside the plant and are less affected by environmental factors like UV light or rain.
Endophytic fungi can reach and kill larvae living inside plant stems, which cannot be achieved by surface-applied biopesticides or conventional insecticides.
Seed treatment with these fungi can impart substantially life-long protection from planting through to maturity, as the fungi grow with the plant.
Documented Applications
Protection of wheat, triticale, spelt, rye, and barley crops by reducing populations of wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae through application of biocontrol compositions containing the specific endophytic fungal strains.
Killing active or diapausing wheat stem sawfly and Hessian fly larvae residing in the stems of grain crops via application of these fungal strains or their compositions to soil, seeds, plants, or plant parts.
Interested in licensing this patent?