The Use of Bacillus Subtilus as an Endophyte for the Control of Corn Seedling Blight Disease Caused by Fusarium Moniliforme

Technology Description:

The invention is a way to biologically control plant disease caused by the fungi Fusarium. The fungi are harmful to cereal crops such as corn, sorghum, and wheat. The invention provides a method for controlling pathogenic fungi in agricultural crops that differs from prior biocontrol agents. The invention incorporates an endophytic bacterium Bacillus subtilus to protect plants from fungal infection and improve yields. The bacterium is used to coat seeds for the introduction of its beneficial gene products to plants for the control of fungal disease. Endophytic B. subtilus is an important organism for biocontrol in grasses, especially in corn seedling diseases.

Reference:

Patent Number 5,994,117 was issued on November 30, 1999.

Charles W. Bacon	Dorothy M. Hinton
Russell Agricultural Research Center	(same address as first inventor)
Athens, GA 30613
(706) 546-3158 / Fax: (706) 546-3367