The invention relates to the field of protecting plants against pests, and more particularly to a method of protecting plants against pests, which can be used for industrial and scientific purposes, in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The method of protecting plants against pests according to the present invention comprises applying a biologically active preparation pre-activated in an aqueous medium to a plant, the preparation comprising microcontainers and a biological insecticide, wherein the microcontainers are made from a polymeric material in the form of a hollow receptacle with at least one opening, via which the biological insecticide is placed inside the microcontainers. The invention also provides a microcontainer and a preparation for realisation of the stated method. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for producing a microcontainer and the aforementioned preparation.

Process for conferring a protection against a pathogen upon a plant by elicitation by an aqueous composition, the active agents of which are extracted from edible fungi (parasol mushroom, pleurotus, button mushroom). An alkaline extraction is carried out, then an enzymatic hydrolysis, to obtain a fraction less than 100 kDa. The process consists in spraying the aerial parts of the plant with the composition obtained in this way; this thereby acts to combat cryptogamic diseases of plants such as vines, fruit trees, vegetable crops and cereals.

Antimicrobial compositions comprising one or more compound components generally recognized as safe for human consumption, and related methods of use, such compositions and methods as can be employed in a wide range of agricultural, industrial, building, pharmaceutical, personal care and/or animal care products and applications.

Provided herein is a Trichoderma strain designated as TM17 and deposited under accession number RREC-TM17 (ATCC #). The Trichoderma strain TM17 and a carrier may be used of make agricultural compositions. Plants comprising the Trichoderma strain TM17 or the agricultural compositions provided herein are also contemplated. Methods for inhibiting the growth of a microorganism on a plant are also provided and may include contacting the plant with an effective amount of the Trichoderma strain TM17 or agricultural compositions including the Trichoderma strain TM17 to inhibit the growth of the microorganism on the plant.

The invention provides a synthetic combination of a crop and at least one fungal endophyte, wherein the crop is a host plant of the endophyte. Provided are also methods and compositions for producing such synthetic combinations. The endophyte reproduces and enhances the agronomic characteristics of the crop. Methods for inoculating the host plant with the endophyte, for propagating the host-endophyte combination, and for detecting the presence of the endophyte and of its metabolites within a host plant are also described.

The present invention relates to a method of enhancing growth conditions for plants by growing the plants in soil containing, in proximity to the plant roots, both a phosphorus source and at least two strains of the fungus Penicillium, particularly P. bilaiae, more particularly strains NRRL 50162 and NRRL 50169.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one biological control agent. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of this composition as well as a method for reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts.

Anti-microbial metabolites secreted from various bacterial and/or fungal species are described that have anti-bacterial activity against Xanthomonas species, which cause disease in plant hosts, including a wide variety of crops. Bacterial and fungal species producing such metabolites were identified from environmental samples (seeds, different vegetable organs and soil) from different geographic locations. Compositions, methods, uses, and kits 5 relating to the identified anti-microbial metabolites are also described.

Stable aqueous spore-containing chemical formulations having a low to medium viscosity profile are provided. The formulations comprise at least one spore in a mixture of water and at least one water miscible solvent, optionally at least one surfactant, optionally at least one stabilizer such as a metal salt, optionally at least one biocide, optionally at least one buffer, and optionally at least one chemical insecticide or fungicide or a mixture thereof. The formulations are particularly suitable as a seed coating and foliar spray. Methods of preparation as well as methods of treating a plant are also provided.

Xylaria grammica EL 000614 strain has a nematicidal activity against root knot nematode. A method for controlling root knot nematode includes treating a crop, a crop seed, or a field for cultivation with a nematicidal microorganism formulation. The method has very little possibility of having a problem related to environmental contamination, and exhibits a high mortality and activity of inhibiting egg hatching for sweet potato root knot nematode (M. incognita). It is expected that the strain can be very advantageously used as an innovative biological control agent which enables prevention of problems associated with environmental contamination.