USE OF BACTERIOPHAGE OUTER MEMBRANE BREACHING PROTEINS EXPRESSED IN PLANTS FOR THE CONTROL OF GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA

The present invention provides compositions and methods for killing or suppressing growth of Gram-negative bacteria that infect, infest or cause disease in plants, including pathogenic, saprophytic and opportunistic microbes that cause disease in plants and food borne illness in people or in animal feed. 110.-. (canceled)11. An isolated peptide , polypeptide or protein comprising:a. an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2;b. an amino nucleic acid sequence with at least 8 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID No. 2;c. an amino acid sequence which hybridizes to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 under stringent hybridization conditions; ord. an amino acid sequence having 35% or greater amino acid sequence similarity over at least 80 amino acids with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2.12. An isolated peptide , polypeptide or protein having the following characteristics:a) it was derived from a bacteriophage;b) it lacks a bacterial secretion signal amino acid sequence;c) it lacks a transmembrane domain;d) when expressed in a bacterium, it does not cause lysis, but instead causes “quasilysis”, whereby the optical density of the culture increases shortly after induction and thereafter declines to approximately the starting optical density; ande) when expressed in a bacterium grown in the presence of a phytoalexin, it causes “quasilysis” and additional cell death, whereby the optical density of the culture increases shortly after induction and thereafter declines a level significantly below that of the starting optical density.1320.-. (canceled)21. A method of preventing claim 11 , treating or reducing a Gram-negative bacterial infection or infestation of a plant cell claim 11 , plant part claim 11 , plant tissue or whole plant claim 11 , said method comprising contacting the plant cell claim 11 , plant part claim 11 , plant tissue claim 11 , or whole plant with the isolated peptide claim 11 , polypeptide or protein of .22. A composition comprising the isolated peptide ...

Transformation of Juvenile and Mature Citrus

The invention relates to methods and compositions for genetic transformation of both juvenile and mature citrus. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods and compositions for genetic transformation of citrus using -mediated DNA delivery, and also methods of enhancing the frequency of genetic transformation of mature citrus by any DNA transfer method, including . Internodal stem sections prepared from epicotyls of citrus seedlings or freshly emerging shoots of mature citrus plants (e.g., first shoots from buds of mature plants following grafting onto rootstock or very young shoots of mature plants) are preconditioned for transformation by inducing callus formation on an artificial medium. All callus and any developing meristematic regions in immediately adjacent tissue are substantially or completely removed and the preconditioned explants are then transformed by or other known methods. Whole plants or shoots to be grafted onto rootstocks are subsequently regenerated from the transformed cells. 1Agrobacterium. A method for transforming a citrus plant cell , comprising: (a) contacting a citrus plant cell with a Rhizobiales bacterium other than sp , comprising: (i) a first nucleic acid comprising a vir gene region of a Ti plasmid wherein the vir gene region acts to introduce a nucleic acid of interest into the plant cell in a VirD2-dependent manner; and (ii) a second nucleic acid comprising one or more T-DNA border sequence(s) operably linked to a nucleic acid of interest; and (b) selecting at least a first citrus plant cell transformed with the nucleic acid of interest.2Rhizobia. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is a species.3Rhizobia. The method of claim 2 , wherein the species is grown in the presence of acetosyringone or other compound that induces vir gene function prior to contacting the plant cell.4RhizobiaRhizobiumSinorhizobiumEnsiferMesorhizobiumPhyllobacteriumOchrobactrumBradyrhizobium. The method of claim 2 , wherein the species is ...

USE OF ALDEHYDES FORMULATED WITH NANOPARTICLES AND/OR NANOEMULSIONS TO ENHANCE DISEASE RESISTANCE OF PLANTS TO LIBERIBACTERS

Methods and compositions based upon natural phenolic aromatic aldehydes (ex: cinnamaldehyde, benzaldehyde) are provided, which find use as curing agents for systemic bacterial infections of living plants, in particular against Gram negative bacteria and more particularly species of Liberibacter, including Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus. The curing agent compositions described are used synergistically with other antimicrobial compounds, such as those that plants manufacture or release as a result of biotic or abiotic stresses, including the application of the subject aldehydes, certain proteins, whether produced by recombinant methods or not, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, or by natural essential oils such as carvacrol or allicin. The aromatic aldehydes have high volatility and exhibit phytotoxicity when applied above certain amounts. Systemic infections and infestations of a variety of plant parts can be treated, including those of leaves and roots. Methods of applying the compositions for agriculture use are disclosed. 1. A composition useful for treating one or more plants infected with at least one bacterial plant pathogen , the composition comprising at least one aromatic aldehyde and a formulation comprising a nanoemulsion and/or nanoparticles containing the aromatic aldehyde.2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises nanoparticles claim 1 , and the at least one aromatic aldehyde is incorporated in and used as a capping agent for the nanoparticles.3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a nanoemulsion claim 1 , and the at least one aromatic aldehyde is incorporated in the nanoemulsion.4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aromatic aldehyde is cinnamaldehyde.5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein said cinnamaldehyde is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% of the diluted application.6. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the nanoemulsion is made from Vitamin E claim 3 , Tocopheryl ...

MENADIONE COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING PLANT DISEASES IN GRAPE PLANTS AND CITRUS

Disclosed herein are methods of treating or improving resistance against Pierce's disease in via administration of a menadione containing composition. Also disclosed are methods of treating exhibiting symptoms of Huanglongbing disease. 1Vitis vinifera. A method of treating a plant disease in a plant in need thereof comprising administering to the plant a composition which comprises a botanically compatible vehicle and an effective amount of menadione.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant disease is Pierce's Disease.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the menadione is at a concentration ranging from 15 μM to 100 mM.4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the menadione is at a concentration of approximately 100 μM claim 3 , 500 μM claim 3 , 1 mM claim 3 , 10 mM claim 3 , 25 mM claim 3 , 30 mM claim 3 , 40 mM or 50 mM.5. The method of any of - claim 3 , wherein the administering to the plant is by soil injection claim 3 , soil drenching claim 3 , or foliar spraying.6. The method of any of - claim 3 , wherein the administering to the plant is by trunk injection.7Xylella fastidiosa. The method of any of - claim 3 , wherein the plant is infected with (Xf) or has symptoms of Pierce's disease.8Vitis viniferaVitis viniferaVitis vinifera. A method of improving resistance of a healthy plant to Xf claim 3 , wherein the plant is in population of plants claim 3 , the method comprising{'i': Vitis vinifera', 'Vitis vinifera, "administering menadione to the healthy plant upon observing that one or more other plants in the population of plants are exhibiting symptoms of Pierce's disease or are infected with Xf."}9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the menadione is administered in a composition comprising a botanically acceptable vehicle and administering comprises soil drenching claim 8 , foliar spraying claim 8 , soil injection claim 8 , or plant injection.10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the botanically acceptable vehicle comprises water.11CitrusCitrus. A method of treating a ...

USE OF BACTERIOPHAGE OUTER MEMBRANE BREACHING PROTEINS EXPRESSED IN PLANTS FOR THE CONTROL OF GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA

The present invention provides compositions and methods for killing or suppressing growth of Gram-negative bacteria that infect, infest or cause disease in plants, including pathogenic, saprophytic and opportunistic microbes that cause disease in plants and food borne illness in people or in animal feed. 1. A transgenic plant , plant part , plant cell , or plant tissue culture comprising a DNA molecule , wherein the DNA molecule encodes a Bacterial Outer Membrane Breaching (BOMB) polypeptide sharing at least 90% amino acid identity with a BOMB polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:9 , SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:13 , SEQ ID NO:15 , and SEQ ID NO:17.2. (canceled)3. (canceled)4. The transgenic plant claim 1 , plant part claim 1 , plant cell claim 1 , or plant tissue culture of ; wherein the DNA molecule encodes a BOMB polypeptide sharing at least 95% amino acid identity with a BOMB polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:9 claim 1 , SEQ ID NO:11 claim 1 , SEQ ID NO:13 claim 1 , SEQ ID NO:15 claim 1 , and SEQ ID NO:17.5. (canceled)6. (canceled)7. The transgenic plant claim 1 , plant part claim 1 , plant cell claim 1 , or plant tissue culture of claim 1 , wherein the DNA encoding the BOMB polypeptide is any codon-optimized version of said DNA.8. (canceled)9. A method for enhancing resistance of a plant to infection or infestation by Gram-negative bacteria claim 1 , said method comprising introducing into the genome of the plant an expression cassette comprising:1) a plant promoter; (a) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a BOMB polypeptide sharing at least 90% amino acid identity with a BOMB polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, and SEQ ID NO:17; and', '(b) any codon optimized version of a nucleic acid of a sequence of (a), wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operably fused to said promoter; and, '2) a gene comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group ...

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PREVENTING OR REDUCING INFECTIONS OF CROP PLANTS BY BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL PATHOGENS

The present invention teaches methods and compositions useful for treating, preventing, or curing pathogen infections of living plants. In particular, the present invention teaches methods of enhancing plant response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The methods and compositions described herein are effective at treating biotrophic pathogens, including Liberibacters.

USE OF ALDEHYDES TO ENHANCE DISEASE RESISTANCE OF PLANTS TO LIBERIBACTERS

Methods and compositions based upon using phenolic aromatic aldehydes (ex: cinnamaldehyde, benzaldehyde) are provided, which find use as agents for treating, preventing, or curing systemic bacterial infections of living plants, in particular against Gram negative bacteria and more particularly species of including The agent compositions described are used synergistically with other antimicrobial compounds, such as those that plants manufacture or release as a result of biotic or abiotic stresses, including the application of the aldehydes, proteins, whether produced by recombinant methods or not, or by essential oils such as carvacrol or allicin. Methods of applying the compositions for agriculture use are disclosed. 2Liberibacter,. A method for treating a plant infected with a said method comprising: (i) at least one aromatic aldehyde; and', '(ii) at least one penetrating polar solvent;, 'a) contacting or injecting one or more parts of said plant with a composition comprising'}{'i': 'Liberibacter.', 'wherein said treated plant has reduced levels of'}3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said at least one aromatic aldehyde comprises cinnamaldehyde.4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said at least one polar solvent comprises DMSO.5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said at least one aromatic aldehyde comprises cinnamaldehyde and said at least one polar solvent comprises DMSO.6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the composition is contacted with said plant by foliar spray.7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the composition is injected into the plant.8Liberibacter. The method of claim 2 , wherein the infection is causing citrus greening disease in said plant.9LiberibacterCa. L. asiaticus, Ca. L. africanusCa. L. americanus.. The method of or claim 2 , wherein the is selected from the group consisting of and10Liberibacter.. The method of any one of claim 2 , claim 2 , or claim 2 , wherein the method cures the plant from the11. The method of any one of claim 2 , claim 2 , claim 2 ...

Use of bacteriophage outer membrane breaching proteins expressed in plants for the control of gram-negative bacteria

The present invention provides compositions and methods for killing or suppressing growth of Gram-negative bacteria that infect, infest or cause disease in plants, including pathogenic, saprophytic and opportunistic microbes that cause disease in plants and food borne illness in people or in animal feed.

Use of aldehydes formulated with nanoparticles and/or nanoemulsions to enhance disease resistance of plants to liberibacters

Methods and compositions based upon natural phenolic aromatic aldehydes (ex: cinnamaldehyde, benzaldehyde) are provided, which find use as curing agents for systemic bacterial infections of living plants, in particular against Gram negative bacteria and more particularly species of Liberibacter, including Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus. The curing agent compositions described are used synergistically with other antimicrobial compounds, such as those that plants manufacture or release as a result of biotic or abiotic stresses, including the application of the subject aldehydes, certain proteins, whether produced by recombinant methods or not, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, or by natural essential oils such as carvacrol or allicin. The aromatic aldehydes have high volatility and exhibit phytotoxicity when applied above certain amounts. Systemic infections and infestations of a variety of plant parts can be treated, including those of leaves and roots. Methods of applying the compositions for agriculture use are disclosed.

Compositions and methods for safe delivery of biologically-active plant transformation agents using non-fibrous silicon carbide powder

According to the described invention, a biologically-active nucleic acid may be directly delivered into plant cells in an improved and operator-safe fashion using encapsulated or complexed nucleic acid formed into nanoparticles, using carborundum powder, a nucleic acid binding protein with nuclear localization signals (NLSs), or both. The plant cells are not enzymatically treated, and the delivery is not mediated by any microbial agent. The present invention provides the following: (1) a nucleic acid delivery system (NADS), i.e. macromolecular nanoparticles to impart the novel conditions; (2) a novel carrier medium (CM) used with the nucleic acid delivery system which impart the desired results; (3) novel, specific conditions that impart the desired or improved efficiency of the transformation system into the plant cell without irreversibly damaging it, and (4) a novel method to produce these conditions through the use of a combination of DNA condensing agents, carborundum powder, a nucleic acid binding protein with NLSs, which together imparts improved nucleic acid delivery efficiency and safety as compared to other known systems.

USE OF BACTERIOPHAGE EXTERNAL MEMBRANE BREAKING PROTEINS EXPRESSED IN PLANS FOR THE CONTROL OF GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA

Transformation of juvenile and mature citrus

Methods and compositions for preventing or reducing infections of crop plants by bacterial and fungal pathogens

The present invention teaches methods and compositions useful for treating, preventing, or curing pathogen infections of living plants. In particular, the present invention teaches methods of enhancing plant response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The methods and compositions described herein are effective at treating biotrophic pathogens, including Liberibacters. Specifically, the compositions and methods useful for protecting plants against both intracellular and intercellular bacterial and fungal attack and infection, comprising the silencing of Bcl-2-associated athanogene 6 (BAG6) genes.

Antibodies against avirulence/pathogenicity proteins of plant pathogens

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods that provide plants with resistance to plant pathogens and pests. Antibodies and aptamers that immunoreact or bind and inhibit the action of protein expression products from avirulence and/or phatogenicity genes, including, but not limited to, the Xanthomonas avr/pth family of such genes, are described. The antibodies of the subject invention function by blocking the action of the primary protein products of avr/pth genes by intercepting and denaturing them prior to their translocation to the plant nucleus. The method of the subject invention concerns transforming a plant with polynucleotide molecules that encode the antibodies. Expression of the antibodies in the plant confers resistance from pathogens and pests. The subject invention also pertains to polynucleotide molecules encoding the subject antibodies, as well as plants and plant tissue transformed with the polynucleotide molecules encoding the subject antibodies.

Methods and compositions for producing self-amplifying rna for gene silencing in plants

The present invention teaches methods and compositions useful for treating, preventing, or curing pathogen infections of living plants. In particular, the present invention teaches methods of enhancing plant response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns using self-amplifying RNA expressing a dsRNA. The methods and compositions described herein are effective at treating biotrophic pathogens, including Liberibacters.

Methods and compositions for producing self-amplifying rna for gene silencing in plants

The present invention teaches methods and compositions useful for treating, preventing, or curing pathogen infections of living plants. In particular, the present invention teaches methods of enhancing plant response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns using self-amplifying RNA expressing a dsRNA. The methods and compositions described herein are effective at treating biotrophic pathogens, including Liberibacters.

Antibodies against avirulence proteins / pathogenicity of plan pathogens

Transformation of mature citrus

The invention relates to methods and compositions for genetic transformation of both juvenile and mature citrus. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods and compositions for genetic transformation of citrus using Rhizobia-mediated DNA delivery, and also methods of enhancing the frequency of genetic transformation of mature citrus by any DNA transfer method, including Sinorhizobium . Internodal stem sections prepared from epicotyls of citrus seedlings or freshly emerging shoots of mature citrus plants (e.g., first shoots from buds of mature plants following grafting onto rootstock or very young shoots of mature plants) are preconditioned for transformation by inducing callus formation on an artificial medium. All callus and any developing meristematic regions in immediately adjacent tissue are substantially or completely removed and the preconditioned explants are then transformed by Sinorhizobium or other known methods. Whole plants or shoots to be grafted onto rootstocks are subsequently regenerated from the transformed cells.