Soil plant productivity is improved by manipulation of soil microflora. The soil microflora is manipulated by addition of a bacterium belonging to Rhizobium (Rhizobiales) to the soil.

The present invention provides a method for profiling plant endophyte microbiomes, wherein the method provides for identification of endophyte strains that are phylogenetically related to a desired endophyte strain. More particularly, the present invention relates to method for identifying, characterising and/or comparing endophyte strains and to novel endophyte strains selected and/or isolated by the method. The present invention also relates to methods for transferring endophyte strains between plants.

The present invention relates to a novel bacterial strain belonging to Lysobacter capsici species, Lysobacter capsici AZ78, bacteria of said bacterial strain, and bacterial preparations related thereto, as well as to uses of the above for preparing a plant protection product—as well as to plant protection products comprising any of the above as well as to further related uses and methods.

The present invention provides a novel modified protein which is to be used, as a novel detection tool relating to gene expression, for detecting a chromatin open structure more easily at a higher sensitivity than by the conventional technique. The present invention relates to: a nucleic acid binding fluorescent protein, said protein containing a DNA binding domain in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, characterized by binding independently from base sequences; and a method for fluorescent labeling of an open chromatin in a vital cell, said method comprising a step for transferring a gene encoding a nucleic acid binding protein into the vital cell, characterized in that the nucleic acid binding protein is a protein comprising a DNA binding domain, in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, and a fluorescent protein directly or indirectly bound thereto and the DNA binding domain binds to a nucleic acid independently from base sequences.

The present invention relates to an endophyte strain isolated from a plant of the Poaceae family, wherein said endophyte is a strain of Xanthomonas sp. which provides bioprotection and/or biofertilizer phenotypes to plants into which it is inoculated. The present invention also discloses plants infected with the endophyte and related methods.

RVDs with recognition preferences for 5mC, 5hmC and 6 mA and different binding properties to these epigenetic modifications are identified in this present invention. Methylation-dependent gene activation, efficient genome editing, targeted detection of 5hmC and other applications can be achieved by using these RVDs. The present invention therefore provides an isolated DNA binding polypeptide containing TALEs, a fusion protein, a polynucleotide, a vector comprising the polynucleotide and a host cell, and the use of the protein comprising TALE repeats domain in the preparation of a reagent for detecting a methylated base in a target sequence of a gene of interest, as well as a method for targeting and binding to a target sequence of a gene of interest in a cell.

RVDs with recognition preferences for 5mC, 5hmC and 6 mA and different binding properties to these epigenetic modifications are identified in this present invention. Methylation-dependent gene activation, efficient genome editing, targeted detection of 5hmC and other applications can be achieved by using these RVDs. The present invention therefore provides an isolated DNA binding polypeptide containing TALEs, a fusion protein, a polynucleotide, a vector comprising the polynucleotide and a host cell, and the use of the protein comprising TALE repeats domain in the preparation of a reagent for detecting a methylated base in a target sequence of a gene of interest, as well as a method for targeting and binding to a target sequence of a gene of interest in a cell.

Soil plant productivity is improved by manipulation of soil microflora. The soil microflora is manipulated by addition of a bacterium belonging to Rhizobium (Rhizobiales) to the soil.

A process is disclosed for production of a polyhydroxyalkanoate that includes depolymerization of a post-consumer polyhydroxyalkanoate and utilization of the hydroxyalkanoate monomer thus produced as a carbon source for a microorganism capable of production of a polyhydroxyalkanoate. Methods can be utilized for true cyclic use of polyhydroxyalkanoates including polyhydroxybutyrates. Various aspects are described including simultaneous depolymerization and polymer production, utilization of purified de-polymerase enzymes and/or microorganisms that express a depolymerase in conjunction with a microorganism that produces polymer, utilization of microorganisms that produce both a depolymerase and a new polymer, and utilization of genetically modified organisms to produce natural or modified depolymerase enzymes.

To control plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas spp., a novel bacteriophage exhibiting bacteriolysis activity specifically on Xanthomonas spp. was isolated. Thus, developed and provided is a plant disease control composition containing the bacteriophage as an active ingredient. Provided are a bacteriolytic agent containing a bacteriophage that has a novel genomic DNA sequence and exhibits bacteriolysis activity specifically on Xanthomonas spp., and a plant disease control composition containing the same as an active ingredient.