The present invention relates to new methods of selecting and breeding organisms, in particular organisms which exhibit symbiotic behavior with symbionts such as fungal endophytes or epiphytes or bacterial microbiome in plants, and to new organisms and symbiota developed thereby. More particularly, the present invention provides artificial seeds comprising symbiota, and methods for preparing and using such artificial seeds, as well as plants, plant seeds and other plant parts derived from artificial seeds or symbiont-containing plants of the present invention.

The present invention relates to new methods of selecting and breeding organisms, in particular organisms which exhibit symbiotic behavior with symbionts such as fungal endophytes or epiphytes or bacterial microbiome in plants, and to new organisms and symbiota developed thereby. More particularly, the present invention provides artificial seeds comprising symbiota, and methods for preparing and using such artificial seeds, as well as plants, plant seeds and other plant parts derived from artificial seeds or symbiont-containing plants of the present invention.

This invention relates to methods and compositions for providing a benefit to a plant by associating the plant with a beneficial endophyte of the genus Penicillium, including benefits to a plant derived from a seed or other plant element treated with said endophyte. For example, this invention provides purified endophytes, synthetic combinations comprising endophytes, and methods of making and using the same. In particular, this invention relates to compositions and methods of improving soybean and maize plants.

The present invention relates to endophytes, in particular endophytes associated with plants of the Brachiaria-Urochloa species complex, plants infected with the endophytes, products produced by the endophytes, and related methods.

Synthetic compositions comprising a plant element and at least one fungal endophyte are described. The fungal endophyte is capable of improving plant tolerance to biotic stress as compared to a reference plant element not further comprising the endophyte. Examples of biotic stress include the biotic stress caused by a nematode, an aphid, a fleahopper, a lygus bug, a stink bug, a soy looper, a cabbage looper, or a fungus.

Synthetic compositions comprising a plant element and at least one fungal endophyte are described. The fungal endophyte is capable of improving plant tolerance to biotic stress as compared to a reference plant element not further comprising the endophyte. Examples of biotic stress include the biotic stress caused by a nematode, an aphid, a fleahopper, a lygus bug, a stink bug, a soy looper, a cabbage looper, or a fungus.

Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum var. nov. strain deposited under BCCM deposit number 54871, comprising the sequence identified by SEQ ID NO: 1; composition having the strain and 2:1 smectite clays and use thereof as bio-stimulant. The invention also discloses a composition having the strain, fungicides, bio-fungicides, insecticides, bio-insecticides, nematicides and bio-nematicides.

Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum var. nov. strain deposited under BCCM deposit number 54871, comprising the sequence identified by SEQ ID NO: 1; composition having the strain and 2:1 smectite clays and use thereof as bio-stimulant. The invention also discloses a composition having the strain, fungicides, bio-fungicides, insecticides, bio-insecticides, nematicides and bio-nematicides.

This invention relates to methods and materials for modulating seed nutritional quality traits of seeds produced by a wheat, cotton, soybean, or maize plant, said plant having been heterologously disposed to, or grown from, a plant element treated with an endophyte.

The invention discloses a method for producing plant seed containing endophytic microorganisms characterised in by the following steps: contacting a flowering plant with a preparation of endophytic microorganisms, whereby the endophytic microorganisms enter the plant via the flowers and are conveyed to seed produced by the plant; and obtaining the plant seed containing endophytic microorganisms from the plant.