Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

The present invention provides a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a Paenibacillus sp. strain or a cell-free preparation thereof comprising a fusaricidin and a tridecaptin; wherein the fusaricidin is produced with a fusaricidin synthetase gene of fusA encoded by a DNA sequence exhibiting at least 90.5% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3; and the tridecaptin is produced with a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene of triE encoded by a DNA sequence exhibiting at least 90.0% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7. Also provided are methods of treating an agricultural plant to control a disease and methods of increasing the vigor and/or crop yield of an agricultural plant with the disclosed compositions.

The present invention provides a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a Paenibacillus sp. strain or a cell-free preparation thereof comprising a fusaricidin and a tridecaptin; wherein the fusaricidin is produced with a fusaricidin synthetase gene of fusA encoded by a DNA sequence exhibiting at least 90.5% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3; and the tridecaptin is produced with a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene of triE encoded by a DNA sequence exhibiting at least 90.0% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7. Also provided are methods of treating an agricultural plant to control a disease and methods of increasing the vigor and/or crop yield of an agricultural plant with the disclosed compositions.

The present invention provides a plant cultivation method, which enables plant cultivation under high salinity environment for a long time. A method for hydroponic plant cultivation under high salinity environment, comprising a cultivation step of hydroponically growing a plant with a cultivation solution having a sodium chloride concentration of 1% by mass or more, during which a salt resistance imparting treatment is performed at least once by bringing a salt tolerance imparting agent into contact with at least a part of a root of the plant, thereby maintaining salt tolerance of the plant.

The present invention provides a plant cultivation method, which enables plant cultivation under high salinity environment for a long time. A method for hydroponic plant cultivation under high salinity environment, comprising a cultivation step of hydroponically growing a plant with a cultivation solution having a sodium chloride concentration of 1% by mass or more, during which a salt resistance imparting treatment is performed at least once by bringing a salt tolerance imparting agent into contact with at least a part of a root of the plant, thereby maintaining salt tolerance of the plant.

The present invention provides a plant cultivation method, which enables plant cultivation under high salinity environment for a long time. A method for hydroponic plant cultivation under high salinity environment, comprising a cultivation step of hydroponically growing a plant with a cultivation solution having a sodium chloride concentration of 1% by mass or more, during which a salt resistance imparting treatment is performed at least once by bringing a salt tolerance imparting agent into contact with at least a part of a root of the plant, thereby maintaining salt tolerance of the plant.

The present invention comprises methods and composition for control of plant pathogens. Isolated bacteria, deposited with ATCC under the Budapest Treaty, are effective to control plant pathogens.

The present invention comprises methods and composition for control of plant pathogens. Isolated bacteria, deposited with ATCC under the Budapest Treaty, are effective to control plant pathogens.

The disclosure provides materials and methods for conferring improved plant traits or benefits on plants. The materials can include a formulation comprising an exogenous endophytic bacterial population, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of a seed or seedling, typically in an amount effective to colonize the plant. The formulations can include at least one member selected from the group consisting of an agriculturally compatible carrier, a tackifier, a microbial stabilizer, a fungicide, an antibacterial agent, an herbicide, a nematicide, an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a rodenticide, and a nutrient.

The disclosure provides materials and methods for conferring improved plant traits or benefits on plants. The materials can include a formulation comprising an exogenous endophytic bacterial population, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of a seed or seedling, typically in an amount effective to colonize the plant. The formulations can include at least one member selected from the group consisting of an agriculturally compatible carrier, a tackifier, a microbial stabilizer, a fungicide, an antibacterial agent, an herbicide, a nematicide, an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a rodenticide, and a nutrient.