Enhancement of growth in plants

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the enhancement of growth in plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The improvement of plant growth by the application of organic fertilizers has been known and carried out for centuries (H. Marschner, “Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants,” Academic Press: New York pg. 674 (1986). Modern man has developed a complex inorganic fertilizer production system to produce an easy product that growers and farmers can apply to soils or growing crops to improve performance by way of growth enhancement. Plant size, coloration, maturation, and yield may all be improved by the application of fertilizer products. Inorganic fertilizers include such commonly applied chemicals as ammonium nitrate. Organic fertilizers may include animal manures and composted lawn debris, among many other sources.

In most recent years, researchers have sought to improve plant growth through the use of biological products. Insect and disease control agents such as

Beauveria bassiana

and

Trichoderma harizamum

have been registered for the control of insect and disease problems and thereby indirectly improve plant growth and performance (Fravel et al., “Formulation of Microorganisms to Control Plant Diseases,” Formulation of Microbial Biopesticides, Beneficial Microorganisms, and Nematodes, H. D. Burges, ed. Chapman and Hall: London (1996).

There is some indication of direct plant growth enhancement by way of microbial application or microbial by-products. Nodulating bacteria have been added to seeds of leguminous crops when introduced to a new site (Weaver et al., “Rhizobium,”

Methods of Soil Analysis, Part

2,

Chemical and Microbiological Properties,

2nd ed., American Society of Agronomy: Madison (1982)). These bacteria may improve the nodulation efficiency of the plant and thereby improve the plant's ability to convert free nitrogen into a usable form, a process called nitrogen fixation. Non-leguminous crops do not, as a rule, benefit from such treatment. Added bacteria such as Rhizobium directly parasitize the root hairs, then begin a mutualistic relationship by providing benefit to the plant while receiving protection and sustenance.

Mycorrhizal fungi have also been recognized as necessary microorganisms for optional growth of many crops, especially conifers in nutrient-depleted soils. Mechanisms including biosynthesis of plant hormones (Frankenberger et al., “Biosynthesis of Indole-3-Acetic Acid by the Pine Ectomycorrhizal Fungas

Pisolithus tinctorius,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

53:2908-13 (1987)), increased uptake of minerals (Harley et al., “The Uptake of Phosphate by Excised Mycorrhizal Roots of Beech,”

New Phytologist

49:388-97 (1950) and Harley et al., “The Uptake of Phosphate by Excised Mycorrhizal Roots of Beech. IV. The Effect of Oxygen Concentration Upon Host and Fungus,”

New Phytologist

52:124-32 (1953)), and water (A. B. Hatch, “The Physical Basis of Mycotrophy in Pinus,”

Black Rock Forest Bull.

No. 6, 168 pp. (1937)) have been postulated. Mycorrhizal fungi have not achieved the common frequency of use that modulating bacteria have due to variable and inconsistent results with any given mycorrhizal strain and the difficulty of study of the organisms.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (“PGPR”) have been recognized in recent years for improving plant growth and development. Hypothetical mechanisms range from direct influences (e.g., increased nutrient uptake) to indirect mechanisms (e.g., pathogen displacement). Growth enhancement by application of a PGPR generally refers to inoculation with a live bacterium to the root system and achieving improved growth through bacterium-produced hormonal effects, siderophores, or by prevention of disease through antibiotic production, or competition. In all of the above cases, the result is effected through root colonization, sometimes through the application of seed coatings. There is limited information to suggest that some PGPR strains may be direct growth promoters that enhance root elongation under gnotobiotic conditions (Anderson et al., “Responses of Bean to Root Colonization With

Pseudomonas putida

in a Hydroponic System,”

Phytopathology

75:992-95 (1985), Lifshitz et al., “Growth Promotion of Canola (rapeseed) Seedlings by a Strain of

Pseudomonas putida

Under Gnotobiotic Conditions,”

Can. J. Microbiol.

33:390-95 (1987), Young et al., “PGPR: Is There Relationship Between Plant Growth Regulators and the Stimulation of Plant Growth or Biological Activity?,” Promoting Rhizobacteria: Progress and Prospects, Second International Workshop on Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria, pp. 182-86 (1991), Loper et al., “Influence of Bacterial Sources of Indole-3-Acetic Acid on Root Elongation of Sugar Beet,”

Phytopathology

76:386-89 (1986), and Müller et al., “Hormonal Interactions in the Rhizosphere of Maize (

Zea mays

L.) and Their Effect on Plant Development,”

Z. Pflanzenernährung Bodenkunde

152:247-54 (1989); however, the production of plant growth regulators has been proposed as the mechanism mediating these effects. Many bacteria produce various plant growth regulators in vitro (Atzorn et al., “Production of Gibberellins and Indole-3-Acetic Acid by

Rhizobium phaseoli

in Relation to Nodulation of

Phaseolus vulgaris

Roots,”

Planta

175:532-38 (1988) and M. E. Brown, “Plant Growth Substances Produced by Micro-Organism of Solid and Rhizosphere,”

J. Appl. Bact.

35:443-51 (1972)) or antibiotics (Gardner et al., “Growth Promotion and Inhibition by Antibiotic-Producing Fluorescent Pseudomonads on Citrus Roots,”

Plant Soil

77:103-13 (1984)). Siderphore production is another mechanism proposed for some PGPR strains (Ahl et al., “Iron Bound-Siderophores, Cyanic Acid, and Antibiotics Involved in Suppression of

Thievaliopsis basicola

by a

Pseudomonas fluorescens

Strain,”

J. Phytopathol.

116:121-34 (1986), Kloepper et al., “Enhanced Plant Growth by Siderophores Produced by Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria,”

Nature

286:885-86 (1980), and Kloepper et al., “

Pseudomonas siderophores:

A Mechanism Explaining Disease-Suppressive Soils,”

Curr. Microbiol.

4:317-20 (1980)). The colonization of root surfaces and thus the direct competition with pathogenic bacteria on the surfaces is another mechanism of action (Kloepper et al., “Relationship of in vitro Antibiosis of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Plant Growth and the Displacement of Root Microflora,”

Phytopathology

71:1020-24 (1981), Weller, et al., “Increased Growth of Wheat by Seed Treatments With Fluorescent Pseudomonads, and Implications of Pythium Control,”

Can. J. Microbiol.

8:328-34 (1986), and Suslow et al., “Rhizobacteria of Sugar Beets: Effects of Seed Application and Root Colonization on Yield,”

Phytopathology

72:199-206 (1982)). Canola (rapeseed) studies have indicated PGPR increased plant growth parameters including yields, seedling emergence and vigor, early-season plant growth (number of leaves and length of main runner), and leaf area (Kloepper et al., “Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Canola (rapeseed),”

Plant Disease

72:42-46 (1988)). Studies with potato indicated greater yields when Pseudomonas strains were applied to seed potatoes (Burr et al., “Increased Potato Yields by Treatment of Seed Pieces With Specific Strains of Pseudomonas Fluorescens and

P. putida,” Phytopathology

68:1377-83 (1978), Kloepper et al., “Effect of Seed Piece Inoculation With Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Populations of

Erwinia carotovora

on Potato Roots and in Daughter Tubers,”

Phytopathology

73:217-19 (1983), Geels et al., “Reduction of Yield Depressions in High Frequency Potato Cropping Soil After Seed Tuber Treatments With Antagonistic Fluorescent Pseudomonas spp.,”

Phytopathol. Z.

108:207-38 (1983), Howie et al., “Rhizobacteria: Influence of Cultivar and Soil Type on Plant Growth and Yield of Potato,”

Soil Biol. Biochem.

15:127-32 (1983), and Vrany et al., “Growth and Yield of Potato Plants Inoculated With Rhizosphere Bacteria,”

Folia Microbiol.

29:248-53 (1984)). Yield increase was apparently due to the competitive effects of the PGPR to eliminate pathogenic bacteria on the seed tuber, possibly by antibiosis (Kloepper et al., “Effect of Seed Piece Inoculation With Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Populations of

Erwinia carotovora

on Potato Roots and in Daughter Tubers,”

Phytopathology

73:217-19 (1983), Kloepper et al., “Effects of Rhizosphere Colonization by Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Potato Plant Development and Yield,”

Phytopathology

70:1078-82 (1980), Kloepper et al., “Emergence-Promoting Rhizobacteria: Description and Implications for Agriculture,” pp. 155-164,

Iron, Siderophores, and Plant Disease,

T. R. Swinburne, ed. Plenum, New York (1986), and Kloepper et al., “Relationship of in vitro Antibiosis of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Plant Growth and the Displacement of Root Microflora,”

Phytopathology

71:1020-24 (1981)). In several studies, plant emergence was improved using PGPR (Tipping et al., “Development of Emergence-Promoting Rhizobacteria for Supersweet Corn,”

Phytopathology

76:938-41 (1990) (abstract) and Kloepper et al., “Emergence-Promoting Rhizobacteria: Description and Implications for Agriculture,” pp. 155-164,

Iron, Siderophores, and Plant Disease,

T. R. Swinburne, ed. Plenum, New York (1986)). Numerous other studies indicated improved plant health upon treatment with rhizobacteria, due to biocontrol of plant pathogens (B. Schippers, “Biological Control of Pathogens With Rhizobacteria,”

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B.

318:283-93 (1988), Schroth et al., “Disease-Suppressive Soil and Root-Colonizing Bacteria,”

Science

216:1376-81 (1982), Stutz et al., “Naturally Occurring Fluorescent Pseudomonads Involved in Suppression of Black Root Rot of Tobacco,”

Phytopathology

76:181-85 (1986), and D. M. Weller, “Biological Control of Soilborne Plant Pathogens in the Rhizosphere With Bacteria,”

Annu. Rev. Phytopathol.

26:379-407 (1988)).

Pathogen-induced immunization of a plant has been found to promote growth. Injection of

Peronospora tabacina

externally to tobacco xylem not only alleviated stunting but also promoted growth and development. Immunized tobacco plants, in both greenhouse and field experiments, were approximately 40% taller, had a 40% increase in dry weight, a 30% increase in fresh weight, and 4-6 more leaves than control plants (Tuzun, S., et al., “The Effect of Stem Injection with

Peronospora tabacina

and Metalaxyl Treatment on Growth of Tobacco and Protection Against Blue Mould in the Field,”

Phytopathology,

74:804 (1984). These plants flowered approximately 2-3 weeks earlier than control plants (Tuzun, S., et al., “Movement of a Factor in Tobacco Infected with

Peronospora tabacina

Adam which Systemically Protects Against Blue Mould,”

Physiological Plant Pathology,

26:321-30 (1985)).

The present invention is directed to an improvement over prior plant growth enhancement procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of enhancing growth in plants. This method involves applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to plants or plant seeds under conditions to impart enhanced growth to the plants or to plants grown from the plant seeds.

As an alternative to applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein to plants or plant seeds in order to impart enhanced growth to the plants or to plants grown from the seeds, transgenic plants or plant seeds can be utilized. When utilizing transgenic plants, this involves providing a transgenic plant transformed with a DNA molecule encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein and growing the plant under conditions effective to permit that DNA molecule to enhance growth. Alternatively, a transgenic plant seed transformed with a DNA molecule encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be provided and planted in soil. A plant is then propagated from the planted seed under conditions effective to permit that DNA molecule to enhance growth.

The present invention is directed to effecting any form of plant growth enhancement or promotion. This can occur as early as when plant growth begins from seeds or later in the life of a plant. For example, plant growth according to the present invention encompasses greater yield, increased quantity of seeds produced, increased percentage of seeds germinated, increased plant size, greater biomass, more and bigger fruit, earlier fruit coloration, and earlier fruit and plant maturation. As a result, the present invention provides significant economic benefit to growers. For example, early germination and early maturation permit crops to be grown in areas where short growing seasons would otherwise preclude their growth in that locale. Increased percentage of seed germination results in improved crop stands and more efficient seed use. Greater yield, increased size, and enhanced biomass production allow greater revenue generation from a given plot of land. It is thus apparent that the present invention constitutes a significant advance in agricultural efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a map of plasmid vector pCPP2139 which contains the

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor gene.

FIG. 2

is a map of plasmid vector pCPP50 which does not contain the

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor gene but is otherwise the same as plasmid vector pCPP2139 shown in FIG.

1

. See Masui, et al.,

Bio/Technology

2:81-85 (1984), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of enhancing growth in plants. This method involves applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to all or part of a plant or a plant seed under conditions to impart enhanced growth to the plant or to a plant grown from the plant seed. Alternatively, plants can be treated in this manner to produce seeds, which when planted, impart enhanced growth in progeny plants.

As an alternative to applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein to plants or plant seeds in order to impart enhanced growth to the plants or to plants grown from the seeds, transgenic plants or plant seeds can be utilized. When utilizing transgenic plants, this involves providing a transgenic plant transformed with a DNA molecule encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein and growing the plant under conditions effective to permit that DNA molecule to enhance growth. Alternatively, a transgenic plant seed transformed with a DNA molecule encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be provided and planted in soil. A plant is then propagated from the planted seed under conditions effective to permit that DNA molecule to enhance growth.

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein utilized in the present invention can correspond to hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptides or proteins derived from a wide variety of fungal and bacterial pathogens. Such polypeptides or proteins are able to elicit local necrosis in plant tissue contacted by the elicitor.

Examples of suitable bacterial sources of polypeptide or protein elicitors include

Erwinia, Pseudomonas,

and Xanthamonas species (e.g., the following bacteria:

Erwinia amylovora, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Erwinia stewartii, Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas solancearum, Xanthomonas campestris,

and mixtures thereof).

An example of a fungal source of a hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide is Phytophthora. Suitable species of Phytophthora include

Phytophthora pythium, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora megasperma,

and

Phytophthora citrophthora.

The embodiment of the present invention where the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein is applied to the plant or plant seed can be carried out in a number of ways, including: 1) application of an isolated elicitor polypeptide or protein; 2) application of bacteria which do not cause disease and are transformed with genes encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein; and 3) application of bacteria which cause disease in some plant species (but not in those to which they are applied) and naturally contain a gene encoding the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein. In addition, seeds in accordance with the present invention can be recovered from plants which have been treated with a hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in accordance with the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptides or proteins can be isolated from their corresponding organisms and applied to plants or plant seeds. Such isolation procedures are well known, as described in Arlat, M., F. Van Gijsegem, J. C. Huet, J. C. Pemollet, and C. A. Boucher, “PopA1, a Protein which Induces a Hypersensitive-like Response in Specific Petunia Genotypes is Secreted via the Hrp Pathway of

Pseudomonas solanacearum,” EMBO J.

13:543-553 (1994); He, S. Y., H. C. Huang, and A. Collmer, “

Pseudomonas syringae

pv. syringae Harpin

Pss

: a Protein that is Secreted via the Hrp Pathway and Elicits the Hypersensitive Response in Plants,”

Cell

73:1255-1266 (1993); and Wei, Z.-M., R. J. Laby, C. H. Zumoff, D. W. Bauer, S.-Y. He, A. Collmer, and S. V. Beer, “Harpin Elicitor of the Hypersensitive Response Produced by the Plant Pathogen

Erwinia amylovora, Science

257:85-88 (1992), which are hereby incorporated by reference. See also pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/200,724 and 08/062,024, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Preferably, however, the isolated hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptides or proteins of the present invention are produced recombinantly and purified as described below.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein of the present invention can be applied to plants or plant seeds by applying bacteria containing genes encoding the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein. Such bacteria must be capable of secreting or exporting the polypeptide or protein so that the elicitor can contact plant or plant seeds cells. In these embodiments, the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein is produced by the bacteria in Planta or on seeds or just prior to introduction of the bacteria to the plants or plant seeds.

In one embodiment of the bacterial application mode of the present invention, the bacteria do not cause the disease and have been transformed (e.g., recombinantly) with genes encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein. For example,

E. coli,

which does not elicit a hypersensitive response in plants, can be transformed with genes encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein and then applied to plants. Bacterial species other than

E. coli

can also be used in this embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the bacterial application mode of the present invention, the bacteria do cause disease and naturally contain a gene encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein. Examples of such bacteria are noted above. However, in this embodiment, these bacteria are applied to plants or their seeds which are not susceptible to the disease carried by the bacteria. For example,

Erwinia amylovora

causes disease in apple or pear but not in tomato. However, such bacteria will elicit a hypersensitive response in tomato. Accordingly, in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention,

Erwinia amylovora

can be applied to tomato plants or seeds to enhance growth without causing disease in that species.

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein from

Erwinia chrysanthemi

has an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 1 as follows:

Met Gln Ile Thr Ile Lys Ala His Ile Gly Gly Asp Leu Gly Val Ser

1 5 10 15

Gly Leu Gly Ala Gln Gly Leu Lys Gly Leu Asn Ser Ala Ala Ser Ser

20 25 30

Leu Gly Ser Ser Val Asp Lys Leu Ser Ser Thr Ile Asp Lys Leu Thr

35 40 45

Ser Ala Leu Thr Ser Met Met Phe Gly Gly Ala Leu Ala Gln Gly Leu

50 55 60

Gly Ala Ser Ser Lys Gly Leu Gly Met Ser Asn Gln Leu Gly Gln Ser

65 70 75 80

Phe Gly Asn Gly Ala Gln Gly Ala Ser Asn Leu Leu Ser Val Pro Lys

85 90 95

Ser Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Ser Lys Met Phe Asp Lys Ala Leu Asp Asp

100 105 110

Leu Leu Gly His Asp Thr Val Thr Lys Leu Thr Asn Gln Ser Asn Gln

115 120 125

Leu Ala Asn Ser Met Leu Asn Ala Ser Gln Met Thr Gln Gly Asn Met

130 135 140

Asn Ala Phe Gly Ser Gly Val Asn Asn Ala Leu Ser Ser Ile Leu Gly

145 150 155 160

Asn Gly Leu Gly Gln Ser Met Ser Gly Phe Ser Gln Pro Ser Leu Gly

165 170 175

Ala Gly Gly Leu Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Ala Gly Ala Phe Asn Gln Leu

180 185 190

Gly Asn Ala Ile Gly Met Gly Val Gly Gln Asn Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala

195 200 205

Leu Ser Asn Val Ser Thr His Val Asp Gly Asn Asn Arg His Phe Val

210 215 220

Asp Lys Glu Asp Arg Gly Met Ala Lys Glu Ile Gly Gln Phe Met Asp

225 230 235 240

Gln Tyr Pro Glu Ile Phe Gly Lys Pro Glu Tyr Gln Lys Asp Gly Trp

245 250 255

Ser Ser Pro Lys Thr Asp Asp Lys Ser Trp Ala Lys Ala Leu Ser Lys

260 265 270

Pro Asp Asp Asp Gly Met Thr Gly Ala Ser Met Asp Lys Phe Arg Gln

275 280 285

Ala Met Gly Met Ile Lys Ser Ala Val Ala Gly Asp Thr Gly Asn Thr

290 295 300

Asn Leu Asn Leu Arg Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Leu Gly Ile Asp Ala

305 310 315 320

Ala Val Val Gly Asp Lys Ile Ala Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Lys Leu Ala

325 330 335

Asn Ala

This hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein has a molecular weight of 34 kDa, is heat stable, has a glycine content of greater than 16%, and contains substantially no cysteine. The

Erwinia chrysanthemi

hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein is encoded by a DNA molecule having a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 2 as follows:

CGATTTTACC CGGGTGAACG TGCTATGACC GACAGCATCA CGGTATTCGA CACCGTTACG

60

GCGTTTATGG CCGCGATGAA CCGGCATCAG GCGGCGCGCT GGTCGCCGCA ATCCGGCGTC

120

GATCTGGTAT TTCAGTTTGG GGACACCGGG CGTGAACTCA TGATGCAGAT TCAGCCGGGG

180

CAGCAATATC CCGGCATGTT GCGCACGCTG CTCGCTCGTC GTTATCAGCA GGCGGCAGAG

240

TGCGATGGCT GCCATCTGTG CCTGAACGGC AGCGATGTAT TGATCCTCTG GTGGCCGCTG

300

CCGTCGGATC CCGGCAGTTA TCCGCAGGTG ATCGAACGTT TGTTTGAACT GGCGGGAATG

360

ACGTTGCCGT CGCTATCCAT AGCACCGACG GCGCGTCCGC AGACAGGGAA CGGACGCGCC

420

CGATCATTAA GATAAAGGCG GCTTTTTTTA TTGCAAAACG GTAACGGTGA GGAACCGTTT

480

CACCGTCGGC GTCACTCAGT AACAAGTATC CATCATGATG CCTACATCGG GATCGGCGTG

540

GGCATCCGTT GCAGATACTT TTGCGAACAC CTGACATGAA TGAGGAAACG AAATTATGCA

600

AATTACGATC AAAGCGCACA TCGGCGGTGA TTTGGGCGTC TCCGGTCTGG GGCTGGGTGC

660

TCAGGGACTG AAAGGACTGA ATTCCGCGGC TTCATCGCTG GGTTCCAGCG TGGATAAACT

720

GAGCAGCACC ATCGATAAGT TGACCTCCGC GCTGACTTCG ATGATGTTTG GCGGCGCGCT

780

GGCGCAGGGG CTGGGCGCCA GCTCGAAGGG GCTGGGGATG AGCAATCAAC TGGGCCAGTC

840

TTTCGGCAAT GGCGCGCAGG GTGCGAGCAA CCTGCTATCC GTACCGAAAT CCGGCGGCGA

900

TGCGTTGTCA AAAATGTTTG ATAAAGCGCT GGACGATCTG CTGGGTCATG ACACCGTGAC

960

CAAGCTGACT AACCAGAGCA ACCAACTGGC TAATTCAATG CTGAACGCCA GCCAGATGAC

1020

CCAGGGTAAT ATGAATGCGT TCGGCAGCGG TGTGAACAAC GCACTGTCGT CCATTCTCGG

1080

CAACGGTCTC GGCCAGTCGA TGAGTGGCTT CTCTCAGCCT TCTCTGGGGG CAGGCGGCTT

1140

GCAGGGCCTG AGCGGCGCGG GTGCATTCAA CCAGTTGGGT AATGCCATCG GCATGGGCGT

1200

GGGGCAGAAT GCTGCGCTGA GTGCGTTGAG TAACGTCAGC ACCCACGTAG ACGGTAACAA

1260

CCGCCACTTT GTAGATAAAG AAGATCGCGG CATGGCGAAA GAGATCGGCC AGTTTATGGA

1320

TCAGTATCCG GAAATATTCG GTAAACCGGA ATACCAGAAA GATGGCTGGA GTTCGCCGAA

1380

GACGGACGAC AAATCCTGGG CTAAAGCGCT GAGTAAACCG GATGATGACG GTATGACCGG

1440

CGCCAGCATG GACAAATTCC GTCAGGCGAT GGGTATGATC AAAAGCGCGG TGGCGGGTGA

1500

TACCGGCAAT ACCAACCTGA ACCTGCGTGG CGCGGGCGGT GCATCGCTGG GTATCGATGC

1560

GGCTGTCGTC GGCGATAAAA TAGCCAACAT GTCGCTGGGT AAGCTGGCCA ACGCCTGATA

1620

ATCTGTGCTG GCCTGATAAA GCGGAAACGA AAAAAGAGAC GGGGAAGCCT GTCTCTTTTC

1680

TTATTATGCG GTTTATGCGG TTACCTGGAC CGGTTAATCA TCGTCATCGA TCTGGTACAA

1740

ACGCACATTT TCCCGTTCAT TCGCGTCGTT ACGCGCCACA ATCGCGATGG CATCTTCCTC

1800

GTCGCTCAGA TTGCGCGGCT GATGGGGAAC GCCGGGTGGA ATATAGAGAA ACTCGCCGGC

1860

CAGATGGAGA CACGTCTGCG ATAAATCTGT GCCGTAACGT GTTTCTATCC GCCCCTTTAG

1920

CAGATAGATT GCGGTTTCGT AATCAACATG GTAATGCGGT TCCGCCTGTG CGCCGGCCGG

1980

GATCACCACA ATATTCATAG AAAGCTGTCT TGCACCTACC GTATCGCGGG AGATACCGAC

2040

AAAATAGGGC AGTTTTTGCG TGGTATCCGT GGGGTGTTCC GGCCTGACAA TCTTGAGTTG

2100

GTTCGTCATC ATCTTTCTCC ATCTGGGCGA CCTGATCGGT T

2141

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein derived from

Erwinia amylovora

has an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 3 as follows:

Met Ser Leu Asn Thr Ser Gly Leu Gly Ala Ser Thr Met Gln Ile Ser

1 5 10 15

Ile Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Asn Asn Gly Leu Leu Gly Thr Ser Arg Gln

20 25 30

Asn Ala Gly Leu Gly Gly Asn Ser Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Gly Gly Asn

35 40 45

Gln Asn Asp Thr Val Asn Gln Leu Ala Gly Leu Leu Thr Gly Met Met

50 55 60

Met Met Met Ser Met Met Gly Gly Gly Gly Leu Met Gly Gly Gly Leu

65 70 75 80

Gly Gly Gly Leu Gly Asn Gly Leu Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Leu Gly Glu

85 90 95

Gly Leu Ser Asn Ala Leu Asn Asp Met Leu Gly Gly Ser Leu Asn Thr

100 105 110

Leu Gly Ser Lys Gly Gly Asn Asn Thr Thr Ser Thr Thr Asn Ser Pro

115 120 125

Leu Asp Gln Ala Leu Gly Ile Asn Ser Thr Ser Gln Asn Asp Asp Ser

130 135 140

Thr Ser Gly Thr Asp Ser Thr Ser Asp Ser Ser Asp Pro Met Gln Gln

145 150 155 160

Leu Leu Lys Met Phe Ser Glu Ile Met Gln Ser Leu Phe Gly Asp Gly

165 170 175

Gln Asp Gly Thr Gln Gly Ser Ser Ser Gly Gly Lys Gln Pro Thr Glu

180 185 190

Gly Glu Gln Asn Ala Tyr Lys Lys Gly Val Thr Asp Ala Leu Ser Gly

195 200 205

Leu Met Gly Asn Gly Leu Ser Gln Leu Leu Gly Asn Gly Gly Leu Gly

210 215 220

Gly Gly Gln Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly Thr Gly Leu Asp Gly Ser Ser Leu

225 230 235 240

Gly Gly Lys Gly Leu Gln Asn Leu Ser Gly Pro Val Asp Tyr Gln Gln

245 250 255

Leu Gly Asn Ala Val Gly Thr Gly Ile Gly Met Lys Ala Gly Ile Gln

260 265 270

Ala Leu Asn Asp Ile Gly Thr His Arg His Ser Ser Thr Arg Ser Phe

275 280 285

Val Asn Lys Gly Asp Arg Ala Met Ala Lys Glu Ile Gly Gln Phe Met

290 295 300

Asp Gln Tyr Pro Glu Val Phe Gly Lys Pro Gln Tyr Gln Lys Gly Pro

305 310 315 320

Gly Gln Glu Val Lys Thr Asp Asp Lys Ser Trp Ala Lys Ala Leu Ser

325 330 335

Lys Pro Asp Asp Asp Gly Met Thr Pro Ala Ser Met Glu Gln Phe Asn

340 345 350

Lys Ala Lys Gly Met Ile Lys Arg Pro Met Ala Gly Asp Thr Gly Asn

355 360 365

Gly Asn Leu Gln Ala Arg Gly Ala Gly Gly Ser Ser Leu Gly Ile Asp

370 375 380

Ala Met Met Ala Gly Asp Ala Ile Asn Asn Met Ala Leu Gly Lys Leu

385 390 395 400

Gly Ala Ala

This hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein has a molecular weight of about 39 kDa, has a pI of approximately 4.3, and is heat stable at 100° C. for at least 10 minutes. This hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein has substantially no cysteine. The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein derived from

Erwinia amylovora

is more fully described in Wei, Z.-M., R. J. Laby, C. H. Zumoff, D. W. Bauer, S.-Y. He, A. Collmer, and S. V. Beer, “Harpin, Elicitor of the Hypersensitive Response Produced by the Plant Pathogen

Erwinia amylovora,” Science

257:85-88 (1992), which is hereby incorporated by reference. The DNA molecule encoding this polypeptide or protein has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 4 as follows:

AAGCTTCGGC ATGGCACGTT TGACCGTTGG GTCGGCAGGG TACGTTTGAA TTATTCATAA

60

GAGGAATACG TTATGAGTCT GAATACAAGT GGGCTGGGAG CGTCAACGAT GCAAATTTCT

120

ATCGGCGGTG CGGGCGGAAA TAACGGGTTG CTGGGTACCA GTCGCCAGAA TGCTGGGTTG

180

GGTGGCAATT CTGCACTGGG GCTGGGCGGC GGTAATCAAA ATGATACCGT CAATCAGCTG

240

GCTGGCTTAC TCACCGGCAT GATGATGATG ATGAGCATGA TGGGCGGTGG TGGGCTGATG

300

GGCGGTGGCT TAGGCGGTGG CTTAGGTAAT GGCTTGGGTG GCTCAGGTGG CCTGGGCGAA

360

GGACTGTCGA ACGCGCTGAA CGATATGTTA GGCGGTTCGC TGAACACGCT GGGCTCGAAA

420

GGCGGCAACA ATACCACTTC AACAACAAAT TCCCCGCTGG ACCAGGCGCT GGGTATTAAC

480

TCAACGTCCC AAAACGACGA TTCCACCTCC GGCACAGATT CCACCTCAGA CTCCAGCGAC

540

CCGATGCAGC AGCTGCTGAA GATGTTCAGC GAGATAATGC AAAGCCTGTT TGGTGATGGG

600

CAAGATGGCA CCCAGGGCAG TTCCTCTGGG GGCAAGCAGC CGACCGAAGG CGAGCAGAAC

660

GCCTATAAAA AAGGAGTCAC TGATGCGCTG TCGGGCCTGA TGGGTAATGG TCTGAGCCAG

720

CTCCTTGGCA ACGGGGGACT GGGAGGTGGT CAGGGCGGTA ATGCTGGCAC GGGTCTTGAC

780

GGTTCGTCGC TGGGCGGCAA AGGGCTGCAA AACCTGAGCG GGCCGGTGGA CTACCAGCAG

840

TTAGGTAACG CCGTGGGTAC CGGTATCGGT ATGAAAGCGG GCATTCAGGC GCTGAATGAT

900

ATCGGTACGC ACAGGCACAG TTCAACCCGT TCTTTCGTCA ATAAAGGCGA TCGGGCGATG

960

GCGAAGGAAA TCGGTCAGTT CATGGACCAG TATCCTGAGG TGTTTGGCAA GCCGCAGTAC

1020

CAGAAAGGCC CGGGTCAGGA GGTGAAAACC GATGACAAAT CATGGGCAAA AGCACTGAGC

1080

AAGCCAGATG ACGACGGAAT GACACCAGCC AGTATGGAGC AGTTCAACAA AGCCAAGGGC

1140

ATGATCAAAA GGCCCATGGC GGGTGATACC GGCAACGGCA ACCTGCAGGC ACGCGGTGCC

1200

GGTGGTTCTT CGCTGGGTAT TGATGCCATG ATGGCCGGTG ATGCCATTAA CAATATGGCA

1260

CTTGGCAAGC TGGGCGCGGC TTAAGCTT

1288

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein derived from

Pseudomonas syringae

has an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 5 as follows:

Met Gln Ser Leu Ser Leu Asn Ser Ser Ser Leu Gln Thr Pro Ala Met

1 5 10 15

Ala Leu Val Leu Val Arg Pro Glu Ala Glu Thr Thr Gly Ser Thr Ser

20 25 30

Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln Glu Val Val Val Lys Leu Ala Glu Glu Leu Met

35 40 45

Arg Asn Gly Gln Leu Asp Asp Ser Ser Pro Leu Gly Lys Leu Leu Ala

50 55 60

Lys Ser Met Ala Ala Asp Gly Lys Ala Gly Gly Gly Ile Glu Asp Val

65 70 75 80

Ile Ala Ala Leu Asp Lys Leu Ile His Glu Lys Leu Gly Asp Asn Phe

85 90 95

Gly Ala Ser Ala Asp Ser Ala Ser Gly Thr Gly Gln Gln Asp Leu Met

100 105 110

Thr Gln Val Leu Asn Gly Leu Ala Lys Ser Met Leu Asp Asp Leu Leu

115 120 125

Thr Lys Gln Asp Gly Gly Thr Ser Phe Ser Glu Asp Asp Met Pro Met

130 135 140

Leu Asn Lys Ile Ala Gln Phe Met Asp Asp Asn Pro Ala Gln Phe Pro

145 150 155 160

Lys Pro Asp Ser Gly Ser Trp Val Asn Glu Leu Lys Glu Asp Asn Phe

165 170 175

Leu Asp Gly Asp Glu Thr Ala Ala Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Asp Ile Ile

180 185 190

Gly Gln Gln Leu Gly Asn Gln Gln Ser Asp Ala Gly Ser Leu Ala Gly

195 200 205

Thr Gly Gly Gly Leu Gly Thr Pro Ser Ser Phe Ser Asn Asn Ser Ser

210 215 220

Val Met Gly Asp Pro Leu Ile Asp Ala Asn Thr Gly Pro Gly Asp Ser

225 230 235 240

Gly Asn Thr Arg Gly Glu Ala Gly Gln Leu Ile Gly Glu Leu Ile Asp

245 250 255

Arg Gly Leu Gln Ser Val Leu Ala Gly Gly Gly Leu Gly Thr Pro Val

260 265 270

Asn Thr Pro Gln Thr Gly Thr Ser Ala Asn Gly Gly Gln Ser Ala Gln

275 280 285

Asp Leu Asp Gln Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Leu Leu Lys Gly Leu Glu Ala

290 295 300

Thr Leu Lys Asp Ala Gly Gln Thr Gly Thr Asp Val Gln Ser Ser Ala

305 310 315 320

Ala Gln Ile Ala Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr Leu Leu Gln Gly Thr Arg

325 330 335

Asn Gln Ala Ala Ala

340

This hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein has a molecular weight of 34-35 kDa. It is rich in glycine (about 13.5%) and lacks cysteine and tyrosine. Further information about the hypersensitive response elicitor derived from

Pseudomonas syringae

is found in He, S. Y., H. C. Huang, and A. Collmer, “

Pseudomonas syringae

pv. syringae Harpin

Pss

: a Protein that is Secreted via the Hrp Pathway and Elicits the Hypersensitive Response in Plants,”

Cell

73:1255-1266 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference. The DNA molecule encoding the hypersensitive response elicitor from

Pseudomonas syringae

has a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 6 as follows:

ATGCAGAGTC TCAGTCTTAA CAGCAGCTCG CTGCAAACCC CGGCAATGGC CCTTGTCCTG

60

GTACGTCCTG AAGCCGAGAC GACTGGCAGT ACGTCGAGCA AGGCGCTTCA GGAAGTTGTC

120

GTGAAGCTGG CCGAGGAACT GATGCGCAAT GGTCAACTCG ACGACAGCTC GCCATTGGGA

180

AAACTGTTGG CCAAGTCGAT GGCCGCAGAT GGCAAGGCGG GCGGCGGTAT TGAGGATGTC

240

ATCGCTGCGC TGGACAAGCT GATCCATGAA AAGCTCGGTG ACAACTTCGG CGCGTCTGCG

300

GACAGCGCCT CGGGTACCGG ACAGCAGGAC CTGATGACTC AGGTGCTCAA TGGCCTGGCC

360

AAGTCGATGC TCGATGATCT TCTGACCAAG CAGGATGGCG GGACAAGCTT CTCCGAAGAC

420

GATATGCCGA TGCTGAACAA GATCGCGCAG TTCATGGATG ACAATCCCGC ACAGTTTCCC

480

AAGCCGGACT CGGGCTCCTG GGTGAACGAA CTCAAGGAAG ACAACTTCCT TGATGGCGAC

540

GAAACGGCTG CGTTCCGTTC GGCACTCGAC ATCATTGGCC AGCAACTGGG TAATCAGCAG

600

AGTGACGCTG GCAGTCTGGC AGGGACGGGT GGAGGTCTGG GCACTCCGAG CAGTTTTTCC

660

AACAACTCGT CCGTGATGGG TGATCCGCTG ATCGACGCCA ATACCGGTCC CGGTGACAGC

720

GGCAATACCC GTGGTGAAGC GGGGCAACTG ATCGGCGAGC TTATCGACCG TGGCCTGCAA

780

TCGGTATTGG CCGGTGGTGG ACTGGGCACA CCCGTAAACA CCCCGCAGAC CGGTACGTCG

840

GCGAATGGCG GACAGTCCGC TCACGATCTT GATCAGTTCC TGGGCGGCTT GCTGCTCAAG

900

GGCCTGGAGG CAACGCTCAA GGATGCCGGG CAAACAGGCA CCGACGTGCA GTCGAGCGCT

960

GCGCAAATCG CCACCTTGCT GGTCAGTACG CTGCTGCAAG GCACCCGCAA TCAGGCTGCA

1020

GCCTGA

1026

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein derived from

Pseudomonas solanacearum

has an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 7 as follows:

Met Ser Val Gly Asn Ile Gln Ser Pro Ser Asn Leu Pro Gly Leu Gln

1 5 10 15

Asn Leu Asn Leu Asn Thr Asn Thr Asn Ser Gln Gln Ser Gly Gln Ser

20 25 30

Val Gln Asp Leu Ile Lys Gln Val Glu Lys Asp Ile Leu Asn Ile Ile

35 40 45

Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Lys Ala Ala Gln Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Thr Gly

50 55 60

Asn Thr Gly Asn Ala Pro Ala Lys Asp Gly Asn Ala Asn Ala Gly Ala

65 70 75 80

Asn Asp Pro Ser Lys Asn Asp Pro Ser Lys Ser Gln Ala Pro Gln Ser

85 90 95

Ala Asn Lys Thr Gly Asn Val Asp Asp Ala Asn Asn Gln Asp Pro Met

100 105 110

Gln Ala Leu Met Gln Leu Leu Glu Asp Leu Val Lys Leu Leu Lys Ala

115 120 125

Ala Leu His Met Gln Gln Pro Gly Gly Asn Asp Lys Gly Asn Gly Val

130 135 140

Gly Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala Lys Gly Ala Gly Gly Gln Gly Gly Leu Ala

145 150 155 160

Glu Ala Leu Gln Glu Ile Glu Gln Ile Leu Ala Gln Leu Gly Gly Gly

165 170 175

Gly Ala Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly Val Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly

180 185 190

Ala Asp Gly Gly Ser Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala

195 200 205

Asp Gly Gly Asn Gly Val Asn Gly Asn Gln Ala Asn Gly Pro Gln Asn

210 215 220

Ala Gly Asp Val Asn Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala Asp Asp Gly Ser Glu Asp

225 230 235 240

Gln Gly Gly Leu Thr Gly Val Leu Gln Lys Leu Met Lys Ile Leu Asn

245 250 255

Ala Leu Val Gln Met Met Gln Gln Gly Gly Leu Gly Gly Gly Asn Gln

260 265 270

Ala Gln Gly Gly Ser Lys Gly Ala Gly Asn Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser Gly

275 280 285

Ala Asn Pro Gly Ala Asn Gln Pro Gly Ser Ala Asp Asp Gln Ser Ser

290 295 300

Gly Gln Asn Asn Leu Gln Ser Gln Ile Met Asp Val Val Lys Glu Val

305 310 315 320

Val Gln Ile Leu Gln Gln Met Leu Ala Ala Gln Asn Gly Gly Ser Gln

325 330 335

Gln Ser Thr Ser Thr Gln Pro Met

340

It is encoded by a DNA molecule having a nucleotide sequence corresponding SEQ. ID. No. 8 as follows:

ATGTCAGTCG GAAACATCCA GAGCCCGTCG AACCTCCCGG GTCTGCAGAA CCTGAACCTC

60

AACACCAACA CCAACAGCCA GCAATCGGGC CAGTCCGTGC AAGACCTGAT CAAGCAGGTC

120

GAGAAGGACA TCCTCAACAT CATCGCAGCC CTCGTGCAGA AGGCCGCACA GTCGGCGGGC

180

GGCAACACCG GTAACACCGG CAACGCGCCG GCGAAGGACG GCAATGCCAA CGCGGGCGCC

240

AACGACCCGA GCAAGAACGA CCCGAGCAAG AGCCAGGCTC CGCAGTCGGC CAACAAGACC

300

GGCAACGTCG ACGACGCCAA CAACCAGGAT CCGATGCAAG CGCTGATGCA GCTGCTGGAA

360

GACCTGGTGA AGCTGCTGAA GGCGGCCCTG CACATGCAGC AGCCCGGCGG CAATGACAAG

420

GGCAACGGCG TGGGCGGTGC CAACGGCGCC AAGGGTGCCG GCGGCCAGGG CGGCCTGGCC

480

GAAGCGCTGC AGGAGATCGA GCAGATCCTC GCCCAGCTCG GCGGCGGCGG TGCTGGCGCC

540

GGCGGCGCGG GTGGCGGTGT CGGCGGTGCT GGTGGCGCGG ATGGCGGCTC CGGTGCGGGT

600

GGCGCAGGCG GTGCGAACGG CGCCGACGGC GGCAATGGCG TGAACGGCAA CCAGGCGAAC

660

GGCCCGCAGA ACGCAGGCGA TGTCAACGGT GCCAACGGCG CGGATGACGG CAGCGAAGAC

720

CAGGGCGGCC TCACCGGCGT GCTGCAAAAG CTGATGAAGA TCCTGAACGC GCTGGTGCAG

780

ATGATGCAGC AAGGCGGCCT CGGCGGCGGC AACCAGGCGC AGGGCGGCTC GAAGGGTGCC

840

GGCAACGCCT CGCCGGCTTC CGGCGCGAAC CCGGGCGCGA ACCAGCCCGG TTCGGCGGAT

900

GATCAATCGT CCGGCCAGAA CAATCTGCAA TCCCAGATCA TGGATGTGGT GAAGGAGGTC

960

GTCCAGATCC TGCAGCAGAT GCTGGCGGCG CAGAACGGCG GCAGCCAGCA GTCCACCTCG

1020

ACGCAGCCGA TGTAA

1035

Further information regarding the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein derived from

Pseudomonas solanacearum

is set forth in Arlat, M., F. Van Gijsegem, J. C. Huet, J. C. Pemollet, and C. A. Boucher, “PopA1, a Protein which Induces a Hypersensitive-like Response in Specific Petunia Genotypes, is Secreted via the Hrp Pathway of

Pseudomonas solanacearum,” EMBO J.

13:543-533 (1994), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein from

Xanthomonas campestris

pv. glycines has an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 9 as follows:

Thr Leu Ile Glu Leu Met Ile Val Val Ala Ile Ile Ala Ile Leu Ala

1 5 10 15

Ala Ile Ala Leu Pro Ala Tyr Gln Asp Tyr

20 25

This sequence is an amino terminal sequence having 26 residues only from the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein of

Xanthomonas campestris

pv. glycines. It matches with fimbrial subunit proteins determined in other

Xanthomonas campestris

pathovars.

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein from

Xanthomonas campestris

pv. pelargonii is heat stable, protease sensitive, and has a molecular weight of 20 kDa. It includes an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. No. 10 as follows:

Ser Ser Gln Gln Ser Pro Ser Ala Gly Ser Glu Gln Gln Leu Asp Gln

1 5 10 15

Leu Leu Ala Met

20

Isolation of

Erwinia carotovora

hypersensitive response elictor protein or polypeptide is described in Cui et al., “The RsmA Mutants of

Erwinia carotovora

subsp. carotovora Strain Ecc71Overexpress hrp N

ECC

and Elicit a Hypersensitive Reaction-like Response in Tobacco Leaves,”

MPMI,

9(7):565-73 (1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference. The hypersensitive response elicitor proptein or polypeptide is shown in Ahmad et al., “Harpin is Not Necessary for the Pathogenicity of

Erwinia stewartii

on Maize,” 8

th Int'l. Cong. Molec. Plant

-

Microbe Interact.,

July 14-19, 1996 and Ahmad, et al., “Harpin is Not Necessary for the Pathogenicity of

Erwinia stewartii

on Maize,”

Ann. Mtq. Am. Phytopath. Soc.,

July 27-31, 1996, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Hypersensitive response elicitor proteins or polypeptides from

Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora cinnamoni, Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora megasperma,

and

Phytophora citrophthora

are described in Kaman, et al., “Extracellular Protein Elicitors from Phytophthora: Most Specificity and Induction of Resistance to Bacterial and Fungal Phytopathogens,”

Molec. Plant

-

Microbe Interact.,

6(1):15-25 (1993), Ricci et al., “Structure and Activity of Proteins from Pathogenic Fungi Phytophthora Eliciting Necrosis and Acquired Resistance in Tobacco,”

Eur. J. Biochem.,

183:555-63 (1989), Ricci et al., “Differential Production of Parasiticein, and Elicitor of Necrosis and Resistance in Tobacco, by Isolates of

Phytophthora parasitica,” Plant Path.

41:298-307 (1992), Baillreul et al, “A New Elicitor of the Hypersensitive Response in Tobacco: A Fungal Glycoprotein Elicits Cell Death, Expression of Defence Genes, Production of Salicylic Acid, and Induction of Systemic Acquired Resistance,”

Plant J.,

8(4):551-60 (1995), and Bonnet et al., “Acquired Resistance Triggered by Elicitors in Tobacco and Other Plants,”

Eur. J. Plant Path.,

102:181-92 (1996), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The above elicitors are exemplary. Other elicitors can be identified by growing fungi or bacteria that elicit a hypersensitive response under which genes encoding an elicitor are expressed. Cell-free preparations from culture supernatants can be tested for elicitor activity (i.e. local necrosis) by using them to infiltrate appropriate plant tissues.

It is also possible to use fragments of the above hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptides or proteins as well as fragments of full length elicitors from other pathogens, in the method of the present invention.

Suitable fragments can be produced by several means. In the first, subclones of the gene encoding a known elicitor protein are produced by conventional molecular genetic manipulation by subcloning gene fragments. The subclones then are expressed in vitro or in vivo in bacterial cells to yield a smaller protein or a peptide that can be tested for elicitor activity according to the procedure described below.

As an alternative, fragments of an elicitor protein can be produced by digestion of a full-length elicitor protein with proteolytic enzymes like chymotrypsin or Staphylococcus proteinase A, or trypsin. Different proteolytic enzymes are likely to cleave elicitor proteins at different sites based on the amino acid sequence of the elicitor protein. Some of the fragments that result from proteolysis may be active elicitors of resistance.

In another approach, based on knowledge of the primary structure of the protein, fragments of the elicitor protein gene may be synthesized by using the PCR technique together with specific sets of primers chosen to represent particular portions of the protein. These then would be cloned into an appropriate vector for increase and expression of a truncated peptide or protein.

Chemical synthesis can also be used to make suitable fragments. Such a synthesis is carried out using known amino acid sequences for the elicitor being produced. Alternatively, subjecting a full length elicitor to high temperatures and pressures will produce fragments. These fragments can then be separated by conventional procedures (e.g., chromatography, SDS-PAGE).

An example of a useful fragment is the popA1 fragment of the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein from

Pseudomonas solanacearum.

See Arlat, M., F. Van Gijsegem, J. C. Huet, J. C. Pemollet, and C. A. Boucher, “PopA1, a Protein Which Induces a Hypersensitive-like Response in Specific Petunia Genotypes is Secreted via the Hrp Pathway of

Pseudomonas solanacearum,” EMBO J.

13:543-53 (1994), which is hereby incorporated by reference. As to

Erwinia amylovora,

a suitable fragment can be, for example, either or both the polypeptide extending between and including amino acids 1 and 98 of SEQ. ID. No. 3 and the polypeptide extending between and including amino acids 137 and 204 of SEQ. ID. No. 3.

Variants may also (or alternatively) be modified by, for example, the deletion or addition of amino acids that have minimal influence on the properties, secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the polypeptide. For example, a polypeptide may be conjugated to a signal (or leader) sequence at the N-terminal end of the protein which co-translationally or post-translationally directs transfer of the protein. The polypeptide may also be conjugated to a linker or other sequence for ease of synthesis, purification or identification of the polypeptide.

The protein or polypeptide of the present invention is preferably produced in purified form (preferably at least about 60%, more preferably 80%, pure) by conventional techniques. Typically, the protein or polypeptide of the present invention is produced but not secreted into the growth medium of recombinant host cells. Alternatively, the protein or polypeptide of the present invention is secreted into growth medium. In the case of unsecreted protein, to isolate the protein, the host cell (e.g.,

E. coli

) carrying a recombinant plasmid is propagated, lysed by sonication, heat, or chemical treatment, and the homogenate is centrifuged to remove bacterial debris. The supernatant is then subjected to heat treatment and the hypersensitive response elicitor protein is separated by centrifugation. The supernatant fraction containing the polypeptide or protein of the present invention is subjected to gel filtration in an appropriately sized dextran or polyacrylamide column to separate the proteins. If necessary, the protein fraction may be further purified by ion exchange or HPLC.

The DNA molecule encoding the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be incorporated in cells using conventional recombinant DNA technology. Generally, this involves inserting the DNA molecule into an expression system to which the DNA molecule is heterologous (i.e. not normally present). The heterologous DNA molecule is inserted into the expression system or vector in proper sense orientation and correct reading frame. The vector contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted protein-coding sequences.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,224 to Cohen and Boyer, which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes the production of expression systems in the form of recombinant plasmids using restriction enzyme cleavage and ligation with DNA ligase. These recombinant plasmids are then introduced by means of transformation and replicated in unicellular cultures including procaryotic organisms and eucaryotic cells grown in tissue culture.

Recombinant genes may also be introduced into viruses, such as vaccina virus. Recombinant viruses can be generated by transfection of plasmids into cells infected with virus.

Suitable vectors include, but are not limited to, the following viral vectors such as lambda vector system gt11, gt WES.tB, Charon 4, and plasmid vectors such as pBR322, pBR325, pACYC177, pACYC1084, pUC8, pUC9, pUC18, pUC19, pLG339, pR290, pKC37, pKC101, SV 40, pBluescript II SK +/− or KS +/− (see “Stratagene Cloning Systems” Catalog (1993) from Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif, which is hereby incorporated by reference), pQE, pIH821, pGEX, pET series (see F. W. Studier et. al., “Use of T7 RNA Polymerase to Direct Expression of Cloned Genes,”

Gene Expression Technology

vol. 185 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference), and any derivatives thereof. Recombinant molecules can be introduced into cells via transformation, particularly transduction, conjugation, mobilization, or electroporation. The DNA sequences are cloned into the vector using standard cloning procedures in the art, as described by Sambrook et al.,

Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,

Cold Springs Laboratory, Cold Springs Harbor, N.Y. (1989), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

A variety of host-vector systems may be utilized to express the protein-encoding sequence(s). Primarily, the vector system must be compatible with the host cell used. Host-vector systems include but are not limited to the following: bacteria transformed with bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA; microorganisms such as yeast containing yeast vectors; mammalian cell systems infected with virus (e.g., vaccinia virus, adenovirus, etc.); insect cell systems infected with virus (e.g., baculovirus); and plant cells infected by bacteria. The expression elements of these vectors vary in their strength and specificities. Depending upon the host-vector system utilized, any one of a number of suitable transcription and translation elements can be used.

Different genetic signals and processing events control many levels of gene expression (e.g., DNA transcription and messenger RNA (mRNA) translation).

Transcription of DNA is dependent upon the presence of a promotor which is a DNA sequence that directs the binding of RNA polymerase and thereby promotes mRNA synthesis. The DNA sequences of eucaryotic promoters differ from those of procaryotic promoters. Furthermore, eucaryotic promoters and accompanying genetic signals may not be recognized in or may not function in a procaryotic system, and, further, procaryotic promoters are not recognized and do not function in eucaryotic cells.

Similarly, translation of mRNA in procaryotes depends upon the presence of the proper procaryotic signals which differ from those of eucaryotes. Efficient translation of mRNA in procaryotes requires a ribosome binding site called the Shine-Dalgarno (“SD”) sequence on the mRNA. This sequence is a short nucleotide sequence of mRNA that is located before the start codon, usually AUG, which encodes the amino-terminal methionine of the protein. The SD sequences are complementary to the 3′-end of the 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) and probably promote binding of mRNA to ribosomes by duplexing with the rRNA to allow correct positioning of the ribosome. For a review on maximizing gene expression, see Roberts and Lauer,

Methods in Enzymology,

68:473 (1979), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Promotors vary in their “strength” (i.e. their ability to promote transcription). For the purposes of expressing a cloned gene, it is desirable to use strong promoters in order to obtain a high level of transcription and, hence, expression of the gene. Depending upon the host cell system utilized, any one of a number of suitable promoters may be used. For instance, when cloning in

E. coli,

its bacteriophages, or plasmids, promoters such as the T7 phage promoter, lac promotor, trp promotor, recA promotor, ribosomal RNA promotor, the P

R

and P

L

promoters of coliphage lambda and others, including but not limited, to lacUV5, ompF, bla, lpp, and the like, may be used to direct high levels of transcription of adjacent DNA segments. Additionally, a hybrid trp-lacUV5 (tac) promoter or other

E. coli

promoters produced by recombinant DNA or other synthetic DNA techniques may be used to provide for transcription of the inserted gene.

Bacterial host cell strains and expression vectors may be chosen which inhibit the action of the promotor unless specifically induced. In certain operations, the addition of specific inducers is necessary for efficient transcription of the inserted DNA. For example, the lac operon is induced by the addition of lactose or IPTG (isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside). A variety of other operons, such as trp, pro, etc., are under different controls.

Specific initiation signals are also required for efficient gene transcription and translation in procaryotic cells. These transcription and translation initiation signals may vary in “strength” as measured by the quantity of gene specific messenger RNA and protein synthesized, respectively. The DNA expression vector, which contains a promotor, may also contain any combination of various “strong” transcription and/or translation initiation signals. For instance, efficient translation in

E. coli

requires an SD sequence about 7-9 bases 5′ to the initiation codon (ATG) to provide a ribosome binding site. Thus, any SD-ATG combination that can be utilized by host cell ribosomes may be employed. Such combinations include but are not limited to the SD-ATG combination from the cro gene or the N gene of coliphage lambda, or from the

E. coli

tryptophan E, D, C, B or A genes. Additionally, any SD-ATG combination produced by recombinant DNA or other techniques involving incorporation of synthetic nucleotides may be used.

Once the isolated DNA molecule encoding the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein has been cloned into an expression system, it is ready to be incorporated into a host cell. Such incorporation can be carried out by the various forms of transformation noted above, depending upon the vector/host cell system. Suitable host cells include, but are not limited to, bacteria, virus, yeast, mammalian cells, insect, plant, and the like.

The method of the present invention can be utilized to treat a wide variety of plants or their seeds to enhance growth. Suitable plants include dicots and monocots. More particularly, useful crop plants can include: rice, wheat, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, corn, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, soybean, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, and sugarcane. Examples of suitable ornamental plants are: rose, Saintpaulia, petunia, pelargonium, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, carnation, and zinnia.

The method of the present invention involving application of the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be carried out through a variety of procedures when all or part of the plant is treated, including leaves, stems, roots, etc. This may (but need not) involve infiltration of the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein into the plant. Suitable application methods include topical application (e.g., high or low pressure spraying), injection, dusting, and leaf abrasion proximate to when elicitor application takes place. When treating plant seeds, in accordance with the application embodiment of the present invention, the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide can be applied by topical application (low or high pressure spraying), coating, immersion, dusting, or injection. Other suitable application procedures can be envisioned by those skilled in the art provided they are able to effect contact of the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein with cells of the plant or plant seed. Once treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor of the present invention, the seeds can be planted in natural or artificial soil and cultivated using conventional procedures to produce plants. After plants have been propagated from seeds treated in accordance with the present invention, the plants may be treated with one or more applications of the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide to enhance growth in the plants. Such propagated plants may, in turn, be useful in producing seeds or propagules (e.g., cuttings) that produce plants capable of enhanced growth.

The hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be applied to plants or plant seeds in accordance with the present invention alone or in a mixture with other materials. Alternatively, the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be applied separately to plants with other materials being applied at different times.

A composition suitable for treating plants or plant seeds in accordance with the application embodiment of the present invention contains a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a carrier. Suitable carriers include water, aqueous solutions, slurries, or dry powders. In this embodiment, the composition contains greater than 0.5 nM hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein.

Although not required, this composition may contain additional additives including fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematacide, herbicide, and mixtures thereof. Suitable fertilizers include (NH

4

)

2

NO

3

. An example of a suitable insecticide is Malathion. Useful fungicides include Captan.

Other suitable additives include buffering agents, wetting agents, coating agents, and abrading agents. These materials can be used to facilitate the process of the present invention. In addition, the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein can be applied to plant seeds with other conventional seed formulation and treatment materials, including clays and polysaccharides.

In the alternative embodiment of the present invention involving the use of transgenic plants and transgenic seeds, a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein need not be applied topically to the plants or seeds. Instead, transgenic plants transformed with a DNA molecule encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein are produced according to procedures well known in the art, such as by biolistics or Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Examples of suitable hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptides or proteins and the nucleic acid sequences for their encoding DNA are disclosed supra. Once transgenic plants of this type are produced, the plants themselves can be cultivated in accordance with conventional procedure with the presence of the gene encoding the hypersensitive response elicitor resulting in enhanced growth of the plant. Alternatively, transgenic seeds are recovered from the transgenic plants. These seeds can then be planted in the soil and cultivated using conventional procedures to produce transgenic plants. The transgenic plants are propagated from the planted transgenic seeds under conditions effective to impart enhanced growth. While not wishing to be bound by theory, such growth enhancement may be RNA mediated or may result from expression of the elicitor polypeptide or protein.

When transgenic plants and plant seeds are used in accordance with the present invention, they additionally can be treated with the same materials as are used to treat the plants and seeds to which a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein is applied. These other materials, including hypersensitive response elicitors, can be applied to the transgenic plants and plant seeds by the above-noted procedures, including high or low pressure spraying, injection, coating, dusting, and immersion. Similarly, after plants have been propagated from the transgenic plant seeds, the plants may be treated with one or more applications of the hypersensitive response elicitor to enhance plant growth. Such plants may also be treated with conventional plant treatment agents (e.g., insecticides, fertilizers, etc.). The transgenic plants of the present invention are useful in producing seeds or propagules (e.g., cuttings) from which plants capable of enhanced growth would be produced.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Effect of Treating Tomato Seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

Hypersensitive Response Elicitor on Germination Percentage

Seeds of the Marglobe Tomato Variety were submerged in 40 ml of

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor solution (“harpin”). Harpin was prepared by growing

E. coli

strain DH5 containing the plasmid pCPP2139 (see FIG.

1

), lysing the cells by sonication, heat treating by holding in boiling water for 5 minutes before centrifuging to remove cellular debris, and precipitating proteins and other heat-labile components. The resulting preparation (“CFEP”) was diluted serially. These dilutions (1:40, 1:80, 1:160, 1:320 and 1:640) contained 20, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1.25 μgm/ml, respectively, of harpin based on Western Blot assay. Seeds were soaked in harpin or buffer in beakers on day 0 for 24 hours at 28° C. in a growth chamber. After soaking, the seeds were sown in germination pots with artificial soil on day 1. This procedure was carried out on 100 seeds per treatment.

Treatments:

1. Seeds in harpin (1:40) (20 μgm/ml).

2. Seeds in harpin (1:80) (10 μgm/ml).

3. Seeds in harpin (1:160) (5 μgm/ml).

4. Seeds in harpin (1:320) (2.5 μgm/ml).

5. Seeds in harpin (1:640) (1.25 μgm/ml).

6. Seeds in buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

TABLE 1

Number of Seedlings After Seed Treatment

Treatment

Number of seeds germinated

Day 0

Day 1

Day 5

Day 7

Day 9

Harpin seed soak (20 μgm/ml)

sowing

43

57

59

Harpin seed soak (10 μgm/ml)

sowing

43

52

52

Harpin seed soak (5 μgm/ml)

sowing

40

47

51

Harpin seed soak (2.5 μgm/ml)

sowing

43

56

58

Harpin seed soak (1.25 μgm/ml)

sowing

38

53

57

Buffer seed soak

sowing

27

37

40

As shown in Table 1, the treatment of tomato seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor reduced the time needed for germination and greatly increased the percentage of germination.

Example 2

Effect of Treating Tomato Seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

Hypersensitive Response Elicitor on Tomato Plant Height

Seeds of the Marglobe Tomato Variety were submerged in

Erwinia amylovora

harpin (1:15, 1:30, 1:60, and 1:120) or buffer in beakers on day 0 for 24 hours at 28° C. in a growth chamber. After soaking, the seeds were sown in germination pots with artificial soil on day 1.

Ten uniform appearing plants per treatment were chosen randomly and measured. The seedlings were measured by ruler from the surface of soil to the top of plant.

Treatments:

1. Harpin (1:15) (52 μgm/ml).

2. Harpin (1:30) (26 μgm/ml).

3. Harpin (1:60) (13 μgm/ml).

4. Harpin (1:120) (6.5 μgm/ml).

5. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

TABLE 2

Seedling Height (cm) 15 Days After Seed Treatment.

Treat

Plants

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

52

μgm/ml

10

5.6

5.8

5.8

5.6

6.0

6.0

5.8

5.4

5.8

5.6

5.7

26

μgm/ml

10

6.8

7.2

6.6

7.0

6.8

6.8

7.0

7.4

7.2

7.0

7.0

13

μgm/ml

10

5.8

5.6

6.0

5.6

5.8

5.8

5.6

5.8

6.0

5.6

5.9

6.5

μgm/ml

10

5.4

5.2

5.6

5.4

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.6

5.4

5.2

5.4

Buffer

10

5.6

5.4

5.2

5.2

5.4

5.2

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.3

TABLE 4

Seedling Height (cm) 27 Days After Seed Treatment.

Treat

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

52

μgm/ml

10.2

10.6

10.4

10.6

10.4

10.6

10.8

10.4

10.8

10.6

10.5

26

μgm/ml

11.6

11.4

11.6

11.8

11.8

11.8

11.6

11.4

11.6

11.4

11.6

13

μgm/ml

9.8

9.6

9.8

9.6

9.8

9.8

9.6

9.4

9.6

9.8

9.7

6.5

μgm/ml

9.4

9.4

9.6

9.4

9.6

9.4

9.6

9.6

9.4

9.2

9.5

Buffer

9.6

10.2

10.0

9.8

10.0

10.2

10.0

10.2

10.4

9.6

10.0

TABLE 5

Summary - - - Mean Height of Tomato Plants after

Treatment.

Treatment

Mean height of tomato plants (cm)

Day 0

Day 1

Day 15

Day 21

Day 27

Harpin seed soak (1:15)

sowing

5.7

7.7

10.5

Harpin seed soak (1:30)

sowing

7.0

8.6

11.6

Harpin seed soak (1:60)

sowing

5.9

6.9

9.7

Harpin seed soak (1:120)

sowing

5.4

6.7

9.5

Buffer seed soak

sowing

5.3

6.5

10.0

As shown in Tables 2-5, the treatment of tomato seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor increased plant growth. A 1:30 dilution had the greatest effect—a 16% increase in seedling height.

Example 3

Effect of Treating Tomato Plants with

Erwinia amylovora

Hypersensitive Response Elicitor on Tomato Plant Height

When Marglobe tomato plants were 4 weeks old, they were sprayed with 6 ml/plant of

Erwinia amylovora

harpin solution containing 13 μgm/ml (1:60) or 8.7 μgm/ml (1:90) of harpin or buffer (5 mM KPO

4

) in a growth chamber at 28° C. The heights of tomato plants were measured 2 weeks after spraying harpin (6-week-old tomato plants) and 2 weeks plus 5 days after spraying. Ten uniform appearing plants per treatment were chosen randomly and measured. The seedlings were measured by ruler from the surface of soil to the top of plant.

Treatments:

1. Harpin (1:60) (13 μgm/ml).

2. Harpin (1:90) (8.7 μgm/ml).

3. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

TABLE 6

Mean Height of Tomato Plants after Treatment

With Harpin.

Mean height (cm)

Operation and Treatment

of tomato plants

Day 0

Day 14

Day 28

Day 42

Day 47

sowing

transplant

harpin 1:60

35.5

36.0

(13 μgm/ml)

sowing

transplant

harpin 1:90

35.7

36.5

(8.7 μgm/ml)

sowing

transplant

buffer

32.5

33.0

As shown in Table 6, spraying tomato seedlings with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor can increase growth of tomato plants. Similar increases in growth were noted for the two doses of the hypersensitive response elicitor tested compared with the buffer-treated control.

Example 4

Effect of Treating Tomato Seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

Hypersensitive Response Elicitor on Tomato Plant Height

Marglobe tomato seeds were submerged in

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor solution (“harpin”) (1:40, 1:80, 1:160, 1:320, and 1:640) or buffer in beakers on day 0 for 24 hours at 28° C. in the growth chamber. After soaking seeds in harpin or buffer, they were sown in germination pots with artificial soil on day 1. Ten uniform appearing plants per treatment were chosen randomly and measured. The seedlings were measured by ruler from the surface of soil to the top of plant.

Treatments:

1. Harpin (1:40) (20 μgm/ml).

2. Harpin (1:80) (10 μgm/ml).

3. Harpin (1:160) (5 μgm/ml).

4. Harpin (1:320) (2.5 μgm/ml).

5. Harpin (1:640) (1.25 μgm/ml).

6. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8)

TABLE 7

Seedling Height (cm) 12 Days After Seed Treatment.

Treat

Plants

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

20

μgm/ml

10

6.5

6.8

6.8

6.5

6.4

6.4

6.8

6.4

6.8

6.6

6.6

10

μgm/ml

10

6.8

6.2

6.6

6.4

6.8

6.8

6.6

6.4

6.8

6.4

6.6

5

μgm/ml

10

6.2

6.6

6.0

6.6

6.4

6.2

6.6

6.2

6.0

6.6

6.3

2.5

μgm/ml

10

6.4

6.2

6.6

6.0

6.2

6.4

6.0

6.0

6.2

6.2

6.2

1.25

μgm/ml

10

6.2

6.2

6.0

6.4

6.0

6.0

6.4

6.2

6.4

6.2

6.2

Buffer

10

5.8

6.0

6.2

6.2

5.8

5.8

6.0

6.2

6.0

6.0

6.0

TABLE 9

Seedling Height (cm) 17 Days After Seed Treatment.

Treat

Plants

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

20

μgm/ml0

10

11.2

11.6

11.4

11.6

11.4

11.2

11.8

11.4

11.8

11.6

11.5

10

μgm/ml

10

13.4

13.4

13.8

13.2

13.4

12.6

12.4

13.4

13.2

13.4

13.2

5

μgm/ml

10

13.6

12.8

13.6

13.2

14.2

13.8

12.6

13.4

13.8

13.6

13.5

2.5

μgm/ml

10

11.6

12.4

12.4

11.8

11.6

12.2

12.6

11.8

12.0

11.6

12.0

1.25

μgm/ml

10

12.8

12.6

12.0

12.4

11.6

11.8

12.2

11.4

11.2

11.4

11.9

Buffer

10

10.0

10.4

10.6

10.6

10.4

10.4

10.8

10.2

10.4

10.0

10.4

As shown in Tables 7-10, the treatment of tomato seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor can increase growth of tomato plants. A 1:160 dilution (5 μg/ml harpin) had the greatest effect—seedling height was increased more than 20% over the buffer treated plants.

Example 5

Effect of Treating Tomato Seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

Hypersensitive Response Elicitor on Seed Germination Percentage

Marglobe tomato seeds were submerged in 40 ml of

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor (“harpin”) solution (dilutions of CFEP from

E. coli

DH5 (pCPP2139) of 1:50 or 1:100 which contained, respectively, 8 μgm/ml and 4 μgm/ml of hypersensitive response elicitor) and buffer in beakers on day 0 for 24 hours at 28° C. in a growth chamber. After soaking, the seeds were sown in germination pots with artificial soil on day 1. This treatment was carried out on 20 seeds per pot and 4 pots per treatment.

Treatments:

1. Harpin (8 μgm/ml).

2. Harpin (8 μgm/ml).

3. Harpin (8 μgm/ml).

4. Harpin (8 μgm/ml).

5. Harpin (4 μgm/ml).

6. Harpin (4 μgm/ml).

7. Harpin (4 μgm/ml).

8. Harpin (4 μgm/ml).

9. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

10. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

11. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

12. Buffer (5 mM KPO

4

, pH 6.8).

TABLE 11

Number of Seedlings After Seed Treatment With Harpin

Number of seeds germinated

Operation and Treatment

(out of a total of 20)

Day 0

Day 1

Day 5

Mean

Day 42

Mean

Day 47

Mean

Harpin (8 μgm/ml)

sowing

11

15

19

Harpin (8 μgm/ml)

sowing

13

17

20

Harpin (8 μgm/ml)

sowing

10

13

16

Harpin (8 μgm/ml)

sowing

9

10.8

15

15.0

16

17.8

Harpin (4 μgm/ml)

sowing

11

17

17

Harpin (4 μgm/ml)

sowing

15

17

18

Harpin (4 μgm/ml)

sowing

9

12

14

Harpin (4 μgm/ml)

sowing

9

11.0

14

15.0

16

16.3

Buffer

sowing

11

11

14

Buffer

sowing

9

14

15

Buffer

sowing

10

14

14

Buffer

sowing

10

10.0

12

12.8

14

14.3

As shown in Table 11, treatment of tomato seeds with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor can increase germination rate and level of tomato seeds. The higher dose used appeared to be more effective than buffer at the end of the experiment.

Example 6

Effect on Plant Growth of Treating Tomato Seeds with Proteins Prepared from

E. coli

Containing a Hypersensitive Response Elicitor Encoding Construct, pCPP2139, or Plasmid Vector pCPP50

Marglobe tomato seeds were submerged in

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor (“harpin”) (from

E. coli

DH5α(pCPP2139) (

FIG. 1

) or vector preparation (from DH5α(pCPP50) (

FIG. 2

) with added BSA protein as control. The control vector preparation contained, per ml, 33.6 μl of BSA (10 mg/ml) to provide about the same amount of protein as contained in the pCPP2139 preparation due to harpin. Dilutions of 1:50 (8.0 μg/ml), 1:100 (4.0 μg/ml), and 1:200 (2.0 μg/ml) were prepared in beakers on day 1, and seed was submerged for 24 hours at 28° C. in a controlled environment chamber. After soaking, seeds were sown in germination pots with artificial soil on day 2. Ten uniform appearing plants per treatment were chosen randomly and measured at three times after transplanting. The seedlings were measured by ruler from the surface of soil to the top of plant.

Treatments:

1. Harpin 1:50 (8.0 μg/ml)

2. Harpin 1:100 (4.0 μg/ml)

3. Harpin 1:200 (2.0 μg/ml)

4. Vector+BSA 1:50 (0 harpin)

5. Vector+BSA 1:100 (0 harpin)

6. Vector+BSA 1:200 (0 harpin)

TABLE 12

Seedling Height (cm) 18 Days After Seed Treatment

Treat

Harpin

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

H1:50

8.0

3.6

5.0

4.8

5.0

4.2

5.2

5.8

4.6

4.0

4.8

4.7

H1:100

4.0

4.6

5.8

6.2

6.0

5.6

6.8

6.0

4.8

5.6

6.2

5.8

H1:200

2.0

4.0

5.8

5.8

4.6

5.4

5.0

5.8

4.6

4.6

5.8

5.1

V1:50

0

3.8

5.0

4.6

5.4

5.6

4.6

5.0

5.2

4.6

4.8

4.9

V1:100

0

4.4

5.2

4.6

4.4

5.4

4.8

5.0

4.6

4.4

5.2

4.8

V1:200

0

4.2

4.8

5.4

4.6

5.0

4.8

4.8

5.4

4.6

5.0

4.9

TABLE 14

Seedling Height (cm) 26 Days After Seed Treatment.

Treat.

Harpin

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

H1:50

8.0

7.6

8.4

8.8

6.8

9.6

8.2

7.4

9.8

9.2

9.0

8.5

H1:100

4.0

12.0

11.4

11.2

11.0

10.8

12.0

11.2

11.6

10.4

10.2

11.2

H1:200

2.0

10.6

11.2

11.6

10.2

11.0

10.8

10.0

11.8

10.2

10.6

10.8

V1:50

0

9.0

9.4

8.8

8.4

9.6

9.2

9.2

8.6

8.0

9.4

9.2

V1:100

0

9.2

10.0

9.8

9.6

8.4

9.4

9.6

9.8

8.0

9.6

9.3

V1:200

0

8.8

9.6

8.2

9.2

8.4

8.0

9.8

9.0

9.4

9.2

9.0

As shown in Tables 12-15, treatment with

E. coli

containing the gene encoding the

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor can increase growth of tomato plants. The 1:100 dilution (4.0 μg/ml) had the greatest effect, while higher and lower concentrations had less effect. Mean seedling height for treatment with 4.0 μg/ml of harpin was increased about 20% relative to vector control preparation, which contained a similar amount of non-harpin protein. Components of the lysed cell preparation from the strain

E. coli

DH5α(pCPP50), which harbors the vector of the hrpN gene in

E. coli

strain DH5α(pCPP2139), do not have the same growth-promoting effect as the harpin-containing preparation, even given that it is supplemented with BSA protein to the same extent as the DH5α(pCPP2139) preparation, which contains large amounts of harpin protein.

Example 7

Effect on Tomato Plant Growth of Treating Tomato Seeds with Proteins Prepared from

E. coli

Containing a Hypersensitive Response Elicitor Encoding Construct, pCPP2139, or its Plasmid Vector pCPP50

Marglobe tomato seeds were submerged in

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor solution (“harpin”) (from the harpin encoding plasmid pCPP2139 vector) and from pCPP50 vector-containing solution at dilutions of 1:25, 1:50, and 1:100 in beakers on day 1 for 24 hours at 28° C. in a growth chamber. After soaking seeds, they were sown in germination pots with artificial soil on day 2. Ten uniform appearing plants per treatment were chosen randomly and measured. The seedlings were measured by ruler from the surface of soil to the top of plant.

Treatments:

1. Harpin 16 μgm/ml

2. Harpin 8 μgm/ml

3. Harpin 4 μgm/ml

4. Vector 16 μgm/ml

5. Vector 8 μgm/ml

6. Vector 4 μgm/ml

TABLE 16

Seedling Height (cm) 11 Days After Seed Treatment

Treat.

Harpin

Plants

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mean

H1:25

16 μgm/ml

10

5.0

5.2

4.8

4.6

4.4

4.6

3.8

4.2

3.8

4.2

4.5

H1:50

8 μgm/ml

10

5.6

5.4

6.0

5.8

4.8

6.8

5.8

5.0

5.2

4.8

5.5

H1:100

4 μgm/ml

10

5.2

5.6

5.0

5.0

5.0

4.8

5.0

5.6

4.8

5.2

5.1

V1:25

0

10

4.4

4.4

4.8

4.6

4.8

4.6

4.0

4.8

4.4

4.6

4.5

V1:50

0

10

4.8

4.4

4.6

4.0

4.4

4.2

4.6

4.0

4.4

4.2

4.4

V1:100

0

10

4.6

4.2

4.8

4.4

4.4

4.0

4.2

4.0

4.4

4.0

4.3

TABLE 18

Mean Height of Tomato Plants After

Treatment

Mean height of

Operation and Treatment

tomato plants (cm)

Day 1

Day 2

Day 11

Day 14

Harpin seed soak (16 μgm/ml)

sowing

4.5

7.4

Harpin seed soak (8 μgm/ml)

sowing

5.5

8.2

Harpin seed soak (4 μgm/ml)

sowing

5.1

7.9

Vector seed soak (16 μgm/ml)

sowing

4.5

6.7

Vector seed soak (8 μgm/ml)

sowing

4.4

6.7

Vector seed soak (4 μgm/ml)

sowing

4.3

6.4

As shown in Tables 16-18, treatment with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor can increase growth of tomato plants. A 1:50 dilution (8 μg/ml hypersensitive response elicitor) had the greatest effect with seedling height being increased by about 20% over the control.

Example 8

Effect of Cell-Free

Erwinia amylovora

Hypersensitive Response Elicitor on Growth of Potato

Three-week-old potato plants, variety Norchip, were grown from tuber pieces in individual containers. The foliage of each plant was sprayed with a solution containing

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor (“harpin”), or a control solution containing proteins of

E. coli

and those of the vector pCPP50 (“vector”), diluted 1:50, 1:100, and 1:200. On day 20, 12 uniform appearing plants were chosen randomly for each of the following treatments. One plant from each treatment was maintained at 16° C., in a growth chamber, while two plants from each treatment were maintained on a greenhouse bench at 18-25° C. Twenty-five days after treatment, the shoots (stems) on all plants were measured individually.

Treatments:

1. Harpin 1:50 16 μgm/ml

2. Harpin 1:100 8 μgm/ml

3. Harpin 1:200 4 μgm/ml

4. Vector 1:50 0 harpin

5. Vector 1:100 0 harpin

6. Vector 1:200 0 harpin

TABLE 19

Length of Potato Stems of Plants at 16° C.

Treatment

Length of potato stems (cm) stem on day 45

on day 20

stem 1

stem 2

stem 3

stem 4

stem 5

stem 6

Plant Mean

Harpin 1:50

43.0

39.5

42.5

34.0

38.0

39.5

39.4

Harpin 1:100

42.0

38.5

(2 branch)

40.3

Harpin 1:200

35.5

30.5

31.5

(3 branch)

32.5

Vector 1:50

34.0

32.0

31.5

28.0

27.5

(5 branch)

30.6

Vector 1:100

30.0

33.5

33.0

30.0

28.0

33.0

31.3

Vector 1:200

33.5

31.5

32.5

(3 branch)

32.5

As shown in Tables 19 and 20, treatment of potato plants with

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor enhanced shoot (stem) growth. Thus, overall growth, as judged by both the number and mean lengths of stems, were greater in the harpin-treated plants in both the greenhouse and growth chamber-grown plants. The potato plants treated with the medium dose of harpin (8 μgm/ml) seemed enhanced in their stem growth more than those treated with either higher or lower doses. Treatment with the medium dose of harpin resulted in greater growth under both growing conditions.

Example 9

Effect of Spraying Tomatoes with a Cell-Free Elicitor Preparation Containing the

Erwinia amylovora

Harpin

Marglobe tomato plants were sprayed with harpin preparation (from

E. coli

DH5α(pCPP2139)) or vector preparation (from

E. coli

DH5α(pCPP50)) with added BSA protein as control 8 days after transplanting. The control vector preparation contained, per ml, 33.6 μl of BSA (10 mg/ml) to provide about the same amount of protein as contained in the pCPP2139 preparation due to harpin. Dilutions of 1:50 (8.0 μg/ml), 1:100 (4.0 μg/ml), and 1:200 (2.0 μg/ml) were prepared and sprayed on the plants to runoff with an electricity-powered atomizer. Fifteen uniform appearing plants per treatment were chosen randomly and assigned to treatment. The plants were maintained at 28° C. in a controlled environment chamber before and after treatment.

Overall heights were measured several times after treatment from the surface of soil to the top of the plant. The tops of the tomato plants were weighed immediately after cutting the stems near the surface of the soil.

Treatments: (Dilutions and Harpin Content)

1. Harpin 1:50 (8.0 μg/ml)

2. Harpin 1:100 (4.0 μg/ml)

3. Harpin 1:200 (

2.0 μg/ml)

4. Vector+BSA 1:50 (0 harpin)

5. Vector+BSA 1:100 (0 harpin)

6. Vector+BSA 1:200 (0 harpin)

TABLE 21

Tomato plant height (cm) 1 day after spray treatment

Treat

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Mean

H

50

5.4

5.0

5.6

5.0

5.2

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.0

5.6

4.8

4.6

5.0

5.8

5.16

H

100

5.0

5.2

5.0

5.4

5.4

5.0

5.2

4.8

5.6

5.2

5.4

5.0

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.15

H

200

5.0

4.6

5.4

4.6

5.0

5.2

5.4

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.2

5.0

5.2

5.0

5.13

V

50

5.2

4.6

4.8

5.0

5.6

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.6

5.4

5.2

5.8

5.0

4.8

5.2

5.15

V

100

5.2

4.8

5.2

5.0

5.6

4.8

5.4

5.2

5.0

4.8

5.0

4.8

5.6

5.2

5.4

5.13

V

200

5.2

5.4

5.0

5.4

5.2

5.4

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.2

4.6

4.8

5.2

5.0

5.4

5.16

TABLE 23

Tomato plant height (cm) 21 days after spray treatment

Treat

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Mean

H

50

28.5

28.0

27.5

26.0

27.0

28.5

28.5

29.0

30.0

28.5

29.0

27.0

28.5

28.0

27.0

28.1

H

100

37.0

38.0

37.5

39.0

37.0

38.5

36.0

38.0

37.0

38.5

37.0

36.0

37.0

37.0

38.5

37.5

H

200

34.5

34.0

36.0

33.5

32.0

34.5

32.5

34.0

32.0

36.5

30.5

32.0

30.0

32.5

34.0

33.2

V

50

30.0

28.0

28.0

28.5

30.0

27.0

26.5

28.0

29.5

28.5

26.5

28.5

27.0

29.5

28.5

28.3

V

100

28.0

27.5

30.0

29.5

28.5

29.0

30.0

26.5

27.5

28.0

30.0

29.0

28.5

28.0

29.5

28.6

V

200

28.5

30.5

27.0

29.0

28.5

27.5

29.0

30.0

28.0

28.5

29.0

30.5

27.5

28.5

28.0

28.7

TABLE 25

Fresh Weight of Tomato Plants (g/plant) 21 Days After Spray Treatment

Treat

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Mean

H

50

65.4

60.3

58.9

73.2

63.8

70.1

58.4

60.1

62.7

55.6

58.3

68.9

58.2

64.2

56.4

62.3

H

100

84.3

68.8

74.6

66.7

78.5

58.9

76.4

78.6

84.8

78.4

86.4

66.5

76.5

82.4

80.5

76.2

H

200

80.1

76.5

68.4

79.5

64.8

79.6

76.4

80.2

66.8

72.5

78.8

72.3

62.8

76.4

73.2

73.9

V

50

64.0

56.8

69.4

72.3

56.7

66.8

71.2

62.3

61.0

62.5

63.4

58.3

72.1

67.8

67.0

64.7

V

100

62.8

58.4

70.2

64.2

58.1

72.7

68.4

53.6

67.5

66.3

59.3

68.2

71.2

65.2

59.2

64.4

V

200

64.2

59.6

70.2

66.6

64.3

60.4

60.8

56.7

71.8

60.6

63.6

58.9

68.3

57.2

60.0

62.9

A single spray of tomato seedlings with harpin, in general, resulted in greater subsequent growth than spray treatment with the control (vector) preparation, which had been supplemented with BSA protein. Enhanced growth in the harpin-treated plants was seen in both plant height and fresh weight measurements. Of the three concentrations tested, the two lower ones resulted in more plant growth (based on either measure) than the higher dose (8.0 μg/ml). There was little difference in the growth of plants treated with the two lower (2 and 4 μg/ml) concentrations. Components of the lysed cell preparation from the strain

E. coli

DH5α(pCPP50), which harbors the vector of the hrpN gene in

E. coli

strain DH5α(pCPP2139), do not have the same growth-promoting effect as the harpin-containing preparation, even though it is supplemented with BSA protein to the same extent as the DH5α(pCPP2139) preparation, which contains large amounts of harpin protein. Thus, this experiment demonstrates that harpin is responsible for enhanced plant growth.

Example 10

Early Coloration and Early Ripening of Raspberry Fruits

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of hypersensitive response elicitor (“harpin”) treatment on yield and ripening parameters of raspberry cv. Canby. Established plants were treated with harpin at 2.5 mg/100 square feet in plots 40 feet long×3 feet wide (1 plant wide), untreated (“Check”), or treated with the industry standard chemical Ronilan at recommended rates (“Ronilan”). Treatments were replicated four times and arranged by rep in an experimental field site. Treatments were made beginning at 5-10% bloom followed by two applications at 7-10 day intervals. The first two harvests were used to evaluate disease control and fruit yield data was collected from the last two harvests. Observations indicated harpin-treated fruits were larger and exhibited more redness than untreated fruits, indicating ripening was accelerated by 1-2 weeks. The number of ripe fruits per cluster bearing a minimum of ten fruits was determined at this time and is summarized in Table 26. Harpin treated plots had more ripe fruits per 10-berry cluster than either the check or Ronilan treatments. Combined yields from the last two harvests indicated increased yield in harpin and Ronilan treated plots over the untreated control (Table 27).

TABLE 26

Number of Ripe Raspberry Fruits Per Clusters

With Ten Berries or More on June 20, 1996.

Treatment

Ripe fruit/10 berry clusters

% of Control

Check

2.75

100.0

Ronilan

2.75

100.0

Harpin

7.25

263.6

Example 11

Growth Enhancement for Snap Beans

Snap beans of the variety Bush Blue Lake were treated by various methods, planted in 25-cm-d plastic pots filled with commercial potting mix, and placed in an open greenhouse for the evaluation of growth parameters. Treatments included untreated bean seeds (“Check”), seeds treated with a slurry of 1.5% methyl cellulose prepared with water as diluent (“M/C”), seeds treated with 1.5% methyl cellulose followed by a foliar application of hypersensitive response elicitor (“harpin”) at 0.125 mg/ml (“M/C+H”), and seeds treated with 1.5% methyl cellulose plus harpin spray dried at 5.0 μg harpin per 50 seeds followed by a foliar application of harpin at 0.125 mg/ml (“M/C−SD+H”). Seeds were sown on day 0, planted 3 per pot, and thinned to 1 plant per pot upon germination. Treatments were replicated 10 times and randomized by rep in an open greenhouse. Bean pods were harvested after 64 days, and fresh weights of bean pods of marketable size (>10 cm×5 cm in size) were collected as yield. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance with Fisher's LSD used to separate treatment means.

TABLE 28

Effect of

Erwinia amylovora

Harpin Treatment

by Various Methods on Yield of Market Sized

Snap Bean Pods

Treatment

Marketable Yield, q

1

% of Untreated (Check)

M/C − SD + H

70.6

a

452

M/C − H

58.5

ab

375

M/C

46.3

bc

297

M/C + H

42.3

bc

271

M/C − SD

40.0

cd

256

Check

15.6

e

100

1

Marketable yield included all bean pods 10 cm × 0.5 cm or larger. Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05 according to Fisher's LSD.

As shown in Table 28, the application of

Erwinia amylovora

harpin by various methods of application resulted in an increase in the yield of marketable size snap bean pods. Treatment with methyl cellulose alone also results in an increase in bean yield but was substantially increased when combined with harpin as seed (spray dried) and foliar treatments.

Example 12

Yield Increase in Cucumbers from Foliar Application of HP-1000™ to Cucumbers.

Cucumber seedlings and transplants were treated with foliar sprays of HP-1000™ hypersensitive response elicitor protein (hereinafter “HP-1000™”) (EDEN Bioscience, Bothell, Wash.) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) at rates of 15, 30, or 60 μg/ml active ingredient (a.i.). The first spray was applied when the first true leaves were fully expanded. The second application was made 10 days after the first spray. All sprays were applied using a back-pack sprayer, and an untreated control (UTC) was also included in the trial. Three days after the second application of HP-1000™, ten plants from each treatment were transplanted into randomized field plots replicated three times. This yielded a total of thirty plants per treatment. Seven days after transplanting, a third foliar spray of HP-1000™ was applied. Although severe drought followed resulting in significant water stress, a total of six harvests were made following a standard commercial harvesting pattern. The total weight of fruit harvested from each treatment is presented in Table 29. Results indicate that plants treated with HP-1000™ at rates of 15 and 30 μg/ml yielded significantly more fruit than the UTC. Plants treated with HP-1000™ yielded a moderate yield increase. These results indicated that HP-1000™ treated plants were significantly more tolerant to drought stress conditions than untreated plants.

TABLE 29

Increase yield of cucumbers after treatment

with HP-1000 ™

Treatment

Rate

1

Yield,

2

lbs./10 plants

% above UTC

UTC

- - -

9.7

a

- - -

HP-1000 ™

15 μg/ml

25.4

b

161.4

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

32.6

c

236.4

HP-1000 ™

60 μg/ml

11.2

a

15.9

1

Active ingredient (a.i.).

2

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 13

Yield Increase in Cotton from Treatment with HP-1000™

Cotton was planted in four, 12×20 foot replicate field plots in a randomized complete block (RCB) field trial. Plants were treated with HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation), HP-1000™+Pix® (Pix® (BASF Corp., Mount Olive, N.J.) is a growth regulator applied to keep cotton plants compact in height) or Early Harvest® (Griffen Corp., Valdosta, Ga.) (a competitive growth enhancing agent). An untreated control (UTC) was also included in the trial. Using a back-pack sprayer, foliar applications were made of all treatments at three crop growth stages; first true leaves, pre-bloom, and early bloom. All fertilizers and weed control products were applied according to conventional farming practices for all treatments. The number of cotton bolls per plant ten weeks before harvest was significantly higher for the HP-1000™ treated plants compared to other treatments. By harvest, HP-1000™ treatment was shown to have a significantly increased lint yield (43%) compared to UTC (Table 30). When HP-1000™ was combined with Pix®, lint yield was increased 20% over UTC. Since Pix® is commonly applied to large acreages of cotton, this result indicates that HP-1000™ may be successfully tank-mixed with Pix®. Application of the competitive growth enhancing agent, Early Harvest® only produced a 9% increase in lint yield vs. UTC.

TABLE 30

Increased lint yield from cotton after treatment with HP-1000 ™,

HP-1000 ™ + Pix ®, or Early Harvest ®

Lint Yield

% above

Treatment

Rate

1

(lbs./ac)

UTC

UTC

—

942.1

—

Early Harvest ®

2 oz./ac.

1,077.4*

14.3

HP-1000 ™ + Pix ®

40 μg/ml + 8 oz./ac.

1,133.1*

20.4

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

1,350.0*

43.3

(*significant at P = 0.05)

lsd = 122.4

1

Rates for HP-1000 ™ are for active ingredient (a.i.); rates for Early Harvest ® and Pix ® are formulated product.

Example 14

Yield Increase of Chinese Egg Plant from Treatment with HP-1000™

Nursery grown Chinese egg plant seedlings were sprayed once with HP-1000™ at (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) 15, 30, or 60 μg/ml (a.i.), then transplanted into field plots replicated three times for each treatment. Two weeks after transplanting, a second application of HP-1000™ was made. A third and final application of HP-1000™ was applied approximately two weeks after the second spray. All sprays were applied using a back-pack sprayer; an untreated control (UTC) was also included in the trial. As the season progressed, a total of eight harvests from each treatment were made. Data from these harvests indicate that treatment with HP-1000™ resulted in greater yield of fruit per plant.

TABLE 31

Increased yield for Chinese egg plant after

Treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Yield

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(lbs./plant)

UTC

UTC

—

1.45

—

HP-1000 ™

15 μg/ml

2.03

40.0

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

1.90

31.0

HP-1000 ™

60 μg/ml

1.95

34.5

Example 15

Yield Increase of Rice from Treatment with HP-1000™

Rice seedlings were transplanted into field plots replicated three times, then treated with foliar sprays of HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) at three different rates using a back-pack sprayer. An untreated control (UTC) was also included in the trial. The first application of HP-1000™ was made one week after transplanting, the second three weeks after the first. A third and final spray was made just before rice grains began to fill the heads. Results at harvest demonstrated that foliar applications of HP-1000™ at both 30 and 60 μg/ml significantly increased yield by 47 and 56%, respectively (Table 32).

TABLE 32

Increase yield of rice after foliar treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Yield

1

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(lbs./ac.)

UTC

UTC

—

3,853 a

—

HP-1000 ™

15 μg/ml

5,265 ab

35.9

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

5,710 b

47.3

HP-1000 ™

60 μg/ml

6,043 b

56.1

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 16

Yield Increase of Soybeans from Treatment with HP-1000™

Soybeans were planted into randomized field plots replicated three times for each treatment. A back-pack sprayer was used to apply foliar sprays of HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) and an untreated control (UTC) was also included in the trial. Three rates of HP-1000™ were applied beginning at four true leaves when plants were approximately eight inches tall. A second spray of HP-1000™ was applied ten days after the first spray and a third spray ten days after the second. Plant height measured ten days after the first spray treatment indicated that application of HP-1000™ resulted in significant growth enhancement (Table 33). In addition, plants treated with HP-1000™ at the rate of 60 μg/ml began to flower five days earlier than the other treatments. Approximately ten days after application of the third spray, the number of soybean pods per plant was counted from ten randomly selected plants per replication. These results indicated that the growth enhancement from treatment with HP-1000™ resulted in significantly greater yield (Table 34).

TABLE 33

Increased plant height of soybeans after foliar treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Plant Ht.

1

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(in.)

UTC

UTC

—

12.2 a

—

HP-1000 ™

15 μg/ml

13.2 b

8.3

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

14.1 c

16.2

HP-1000 ™

60 μg/ml

14.3 c

17.3

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 17

Yield Increase of Strawberries from Treatment with HP-1000™

Two field trials with HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) were conducted on two strawberry varieties, Camarosa and Selva. For each variety, a randomized complete block (RCB) design was established having four replicate plots (5.33×10 feet) per treatment in a commercially producing strawberry field. Within each plot, strawberry plants were planted in a double row layout. An untreated control (UTC) was also included in the trial. Before applications began, all plants were picked clean of any flowers and berries. Sprays of HP-1000™ at the rate of 40 μg/ml were applied as six weekly using a back-pack sprayer. Just prior to application of each spray, all ripe fruit from each treatment was harvested, weighed, and graded according to commercial standards. Within three weeks of the first application of HP-1000™ to Selva strawberry plants, growth enhancement was discernible as visibly greater above-ground biomass and a more vigorous, greener and healthier appearance. After six harvests (i.e. the scheduled life-span for these plants), all yield data were summed and analyzed. For the Camarosa variety, yield of marketable fruit from HP-1000™ treated plants was significantly increased (27%) over the UTC when averaged over the last four pickings (Table 35). Significant differences between treatments were not apparent for this variety for the first two pickings. The Selva variety was more responsive to the growth enhancing effects from treatment with HP-1000™; Selva strawberry plants yielded a statistically significant 64% more marketable fruit vs. the UTC when averaged over six pickings (Table 35).

TABLE 35

Increased yield of strawberries after foliar

treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Yield

1

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(lbs./rep.)

UTC

Variety: Camarosa

UTC

—

1.71 a

—

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

2.17 b

27

Variety: Selva

UTC

—

0.88 a

—

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

1.44 b

64

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 18

Earlier Maturity and Increased Yield of Tomatoes from Treatment with HP-1000™

Fresh market tomatoes (var. Solar Set) were grown in plots (2×30 feet) replicated 5 times in a randomized complete block (RCB) field trial within a commercial tomato production field. Treatments included HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation), an experimental competitive product (Actigard™ (Novartis, Greensboro, N.C.)) and a chemical standard (Kocide® (Griffen Corp., Valdosta, Ga.))+Maeb® (DuPont Agricultural Products, Wilmington, Del.)) for disease control. The initial application of HP-1000™ was made as a 50 ml drench (of 30 μg/ml a.i.) poured directly over the seedling immediately after transplanting. Thereafter, eleven weekly foliar sprays were applied using a back-pack sprayer. The first harvest from all treatments was made approximately six weeks after transplanting and only fully red, ripe tomatoes were harvested from each treatment. Results indicated that HP-1000™ treated plants had a significantly greater amount of tomatoes ready for the first harvest (Table 36). The tomatoes harvested from the HP-1000™ treated plants were estimated to be 10-14 days ahead other treatments.

TABLE 36

Increased yield of tomatoes at first harvest after foliar

treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Yield

2

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

1

(lbs./rep.)

UTC

UTC

—

0.61 a

—

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

2.87 b

375

Actigard ™

14 g/ac

0.45 a

−25.1

Kocide ® +

2 lbs. ac.

0.31 a

−49.1

Maneb ®

1 lb./ac.

1

Rates for Kocide ® and Maneb ® are for formulated product.

2

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 19

Earlier Flowering and Growth Enhancement of Strawberries from Treatment with HP-1000™ when Planted in Non-fumigated Soil

Strawberry plants (“plugs” and “bare-root”), cv. Commander were transplanted into plots (2×30 feet) replicated 5 times in a randomized complete block field trial. Approximately sixty individual plants were transplanted into each replicate. Treatments applied in this field trial are listed below:

Treatment

Application method

HP-1000 ™

50-ml drench solution of HP-1000 ™

(plug plants)

(EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor

formulation) at 40 μg/ml (a.i.) poured

directly over the individual plants

immediately after transplanting into

non-fumigated soil

1

, followed by

foliar applications of HP-1000 ™ at

40 μg/ml every 14 days.

HP-1000 ™

root soak in solution of HP-1000 ™ at

40 (bare-

μg/ml (a.i.) for 1 hour, immediately

root plants)

before transplanting into non-fumigated

soil,

1

followed by foliar applications

of HP-1000 ™ at 40 μg/ml every 14

days.

methyl bromide/

soil fumigation at 300 lbs./ac via

chlorpicrin

injection prior to transplanting, no

75/25

HP-1000 ™ treatments applied.

Telone/chlorpicrin

soil fumigation at 45 gal./ac via

70/30

injection prior to transplanting, no

HP-1000 ™ treatments applied.

untreated control

no fumigation, no HP-1000 ™ treatments

(UTC)

1

Non-fumigated soil had been cropped to vetch for the two previous years.

Transplanting was done in late fall when cool weather tended to slow plant growth. Two weeks after transplanting, the first foliar application of HP-1000™ was made at 40 μg/ml (a.i.) with a back-pack sprayer. Three weeks after transplanting, preliminary results were gathered comparing HP-1000™ treatment against methyl bromide and UTC by counting the number of flowers on all strawberry “plug” plants in each replication. Since flowering had not yet occurred in the “bare-root” plants, each plant in replicates for this treatment was assessed for early leaf growth by measuring the distance from leaf tip to stem on the middle leaf of 3-leaf cluster. Results (Tables 37 and 38) indicated that treatment with HP-1000™ provided early enhanced flower growth and leaf size for “plug” and “bare-root” strawberry plants, respectively.

TABLE 37

Earlier flowering of “plug” strawberry transplants after

foliar treatments with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

No. flowers/

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

rep

1

UTC

UTC

—

2.0 a

—

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

7.5 b

275

Methyl bromide/

300 lbs./ac

5.3 b

163

chlorpicrin

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 20

Early Growth Enhancement of Jalapeño Peppers from Application of HP-1000™

Jalapeño pepper (cv. Mittlya) transplants were treated with a root drench of HP-1000 (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) (30 μg/ml a.i.) for 1 hour, then transplanted into randomized field plots replicated four times. An untreated control (UTC) was also included. Beginning 14 days after transplanting, treated plants received three foliar sprays of HP-1000™ at 14 day intervals using a back-pack sprayer. One week after the third application of HP-1000™ (54 days after transplanting), plant height was measured from four randomly selected plants per replication. Results from these measurements indicated that the HP-1000™ treated plants were approximately 26% taller than the UTC plants (Table 39). In addition, the number of buds, flowers or fruit on each plant was counted. These results indicated that the HP-1000™ treated plants had over 61% more flowers, fruit or buds compared to UTC plants (Table 40).

TABLE 39

Increased plant height in Jalapeño peppers

after treatments with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Plant Ht.

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(in.)

1

UTC

UTC

—

a 7.0

—

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

8.6 b

23.6

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 21

Growth Enhancement of Tobacco from Application of HP-1000™

Tobacco seedlings were transplanted into randomized field plots replicated three times. A foliar spray of HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) was applied after transplanting at one of three rates: 15, 30, or 60 μg/ml a.i. Sixty days later, a second foliar application of HP-1000 was made. Two days after the second application, plant height, number of leaves per plant, and the leaf size (area) were measured from ten, randomly selected plants per treatment. Results from these measurements indicated treatment with HP-1000™ enhanced tobacco plant growth significantly (Tables 41, 42, and 43). Plant height was increased by 6-13%, while plants treated with HP-1000™ at 30 and 60 μg/ml averaged just over 1 more leaf per plant than UTC. Most significantly, however, treatment with HP-1000™ at 15, 30, and 60 μg/ml resulted in corresponding increases in leaf area. Tobacco plants with an extra leaf per plant and an increase in average leaf size (area) represent a commercially significant response.

TABLE 41

Increased plant height in tobacco after

treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Plant Ht.

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(cm)

UTC

UTC

—

72.0

—

HP-1000 ™

15 μg/ml

76.4

5.3

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

79.2

9.0

HP-1000 ™

60 μg/ml

81.3

6.9

TABLE 42

Increased number of tobacco leaves per plant after

treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Rate

Leaves/

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

plant

1

UTC

UTC

—

16.8

—

HP-1000 ™

15 μg/ml

17.4

3.6

HP-1000 ™

30 μg/ml

18.1

7.7

HP-1000 ™

60 μg/ml

17.9

6.5

Example 22

Growth Enhancement of Winter Wheat from Application of HP-1000™

Winter wheat seed was “dusted” with dry HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) powder at the rate of 3 ounces of formulated product (3% a.i.) per 100 lbs. seed, then planted using conventional seeding equipment into randomized test plots 11.7 feet by 100 feet long. Additional treatments included a seed “dusting” with HP-1000™ powder (3% a.i.) at 1 oz. formulated product per 100 lbs. seed, a seed-soak in a solution of HP-1000™ at a concentration of 20 μg/ml, a.i., for four hours, then air-dried before planting, a standard chemical (Dividend®) fungicide “dusting”, and an untreated control (UTC). Eight days after planting, HP-1000™ treated seeds began to emerge, whereas the UTC and chemical standard-treated seed did not emerge until approximately 14 days after planting, the normal time expected. At 41 days after planting, seedlings were removed from the ground and evaluated. Root mass for wheat treated with HP-1000™ as a “dusting” at 3 oz./100 lb. was visually inspected and judged to be approximately twice as great as any of the other treatments.

Following the field trial, a greenhouse experiment was designed to gain confirmation of these results. Treatments included wheat seed dusted with dry HP-1000™ (10% a.i.) at a rate of 3 ounces per 100 lbs. of seed, seed soaking of HP-1000™ in solution concentration of 20 mg/ml for four hours before planting, and an untreated control (UTC). Wheat seeds from each treatment were planted at the rate of 25 seeds per pot, with five pots serving as replicates for each treatment. Fifteen days after planting, ten randomly selected seedlings from each treatment pot were removed, carefully cleaned, and measured for root length. Since the above-ground portion of individual seedlings did not exhibit any treatment effect, increased root growth from treatment with HP-1000™ did not influence the selection of samples. The increase in root growth from either HP-1000™ treatment was significantly greater than UTC (Table 49); however, the seed dusting treatment appeared to give slightly better results.

TABLE 44

Increased root growth in wheat seedlings

after treatment with HP-1000 ™.

Root length

% above

Treatment

Rate

(cm)

1

UTC

UTC

—

35.6 a

—

HP-1000 ™

3 oz./100 lbs

41.0 b

17.4

(dusting)

HP-1000 ™

20 μg/ml

40.8 b

14.6

(soaking)

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

Example 23

Growth Enhancement of Cucumbers from Application of HP-1000™

A field trial of commercially produced cucumbers consisted of four treatments, HP-1000™ (EDEN Bioscience) (

Erwinia amylovora

hypersensitive response elicitor formulation) at two rates (20 or 40 μg/ml), a chemical standard for disease control (Bravo® (Zeneca Ag Products, Wilmington, Del.) +Maneb®) and an untreated control (UTC). Each treatment was replicated four times in 3×75 foot plots with a plant spacing of approximately 2 feet for each treatment. Foliar sprays of HP-1000™ were applied beginning at first true leaf and repeated at 14 day intervals until the last harvest for a total of six applications. The standard fungicide mix was applied every seven days or sooner if conditions warranted. Commercial harvesting began approximately two months after first application of HP-1000υ (after five sprays of HP-1000™ had been applied), and a final harvest was made approximately 14 days after the first harvest.

Results from the first harvest indicated that treatment with HP-1000™ enhanced the average cucumber yield by increasing the total number of cucumbers harvested and not the average weight of individual cucumbers (Tables 45-47). The same trend was noted at the final harvest (Tables 48-49). It was commercially important that the yield increase resulting from treatment with HP-1000™ was not achieved by significantly increasing average cucumber size.

TABLE 45

Increased cucumber yield after treatment with

HP-1000 ™, first harvest.

Rate

Yield/trt

1

% above

Treatment

(a.i.)

(kg.)

UTC

UTC

—

10.0 a

—

Bravo + Maneb

label

10.8 a

8.4

HP-1000 ™

20 μg/ml

12.3 ab

22.8

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

13.8 b

38.0

1

Means followed by different letters are significantly different according to Duncan's MRT, P = 0.05.

TABLE 47

Average weight of cucumbers after treatment

with HP-1000 ™, first harvest.

Rate

Weight/

% change

Treatment

(a.i.)

fruit (g)

vs. UTC

UTC

—

406

—

Bravo + Maneb

label

390

−4

HP-1000 ™

20 μg/ml

395

−3

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

403

−1

TABLE 50

Average weight of cucumbers after treatment

with HP-1000 ™, third harvest.

Rate

Weight/

% change

Treatment

(a.i.)

fruit (g)

vs. UTC

UTC

—

255

—

Bravo + Maneb

label

232

−9

HP-1000 ™

20 μg/ml

247

−3

HP-1000 ™

40 μg/ml

237

−7

Example 24

Harpin

pss

from

Pseudomonas syringae

pv syringae Induces Growth Enhancement in Tomato

To test if harpin

pss

(i.e. the hypersensitive response elicitor from

Pseudomonas syringae

pv syringae) (He, S. Y., et al., “

Pseudomonas syringae

pv syringae Harpin

pss

. A Protein that is Secreted via the Hrp Pathway and Elicits the Hypersensitive Response in Plants,” Cell 73:1255-66 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference) also stimulates plant growth, tomato seeds (Marglobe variety) were sowed in 8 inches pots with artificial soil. 10 days after sowing, the seedlings were transplanted into individual pots. Throughout the experiment, fertilizer, irrigation of water, temperature, and soil moisture were maintained uniformly among plants. 16 days after transplanting, the initial plant height was measured and the first application of harpin

pss

was made, this is referred to as day 0. A second application was made on day 15. Additional growth data was collected on day 10 and day 30. The final data collection on day 30 included both plant height and fresh weight.

The harpin

pss

used for application during the experiment was produced by fermenting

E. coli

DH5 containing the plasmid with the gene encoding harpin

pss

(i.e. hrpZ). The cells were harvested, resuspended in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer, and disrupted by sonication. The sonicated material was boiled for 5 minutes and then centrifugated for 10 min. at 10,000 rpm. The supernantant was considered as Cell-Free Elicitor Preparation (CFEP). 20 and 50 μg/ml harpinpss solution was made with the same buffer used to make cell suspension. CFEP prepared from the same strain containing the same plasmid but without hrpZ gene was used as the material for control treatment.

The wetting agent, Pinene II (Drexel Chemical Co., Memphis, Tenn.) was added to the harpin

pss

solution at the concentration of 0.1%, then harpin

pss

was sprayed onto tomato plant until there was run off.

Table 51 shows that there was a significant difference between the harpin

pss

treatment groups and the control group. Harpin

pss

treated tomato increased more than 10% in height. The data supports the claim that harpin

pss

does act similar to the hypersensitive response elicitor from

Erwinia amylovora,

in that when applied to tomato and many other species of plants, there is a growth enhancement effect. In addition to a significant increase of tomato height harpin

pss

-treated tomato had more biomass, big leaves, early flower setting, and over all healthier appearance.

TABLE 51

Harpin

pss

enhances the growth of tomato plant

Plant Height (cm

1

)

Treatment

Day 0

Day 10

Day 30

CFEP Control

8.5

2

(0.87) a

3

23.9

(1.90) a

68.2

(8.60) a

Harpinpss 20 μg/ml

8.8

(0.98) a

27.3

(1.75) b

74.2

(6.38) b

Harpinpss 50 μg/ml

8.8

(1.13) a

26.8

(2.31) b

75.4

6.30) b

1

Plant height was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm. Day 0 refers to the day the initial plant heights were recorded and the first application was made.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

338 amino acids

amino acid

linear

protein

not provided

1
Met Gln Ile Thr Ile Lys Ala His Ile Gly Gly Asp Leu Gly Val Ser
1 5 10 15
Gly Leu Gly Ala Gln Gly Leu Lys Gly Leu Asn Ser Ala Ala Ser Ser
20 25 30
Leu Gly Ser Ser Val Asp Lys Leu Ser Ser Thr Ile Asp Lys Leu Thr
35 40 45
Ser Ala Leu Thr Ser Met Met Phe Gly Gly Ala Leu Ala Gln Gly Leu
50 55 60
Gly Ala Ser Ser Lys Gly Leu Gly Met Ser Asn Gln Leu Gly Gln Ser
65 70 75 80
Phe Gly Asn Gly Ala Gln Gly Ala Ser Asn Leu Leu Ser Val Pro Lys
85 90 95
Ser Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Ser Lys Met Phe Asp Lys Ala Leu Asp Asp
100 105 110
Leu Leu Gly His Asp Thr Val Thr Lys Leu Thr Asn Gln Ser Asn Gln
115 120 125
Leu Ala Asn Ser Met Leu Asn Ala Ser Gln Met Thr Gln Gly Asn Met
130 135 140
Asn Ala Phe Gly Ser Gly Val Asn Asn Ala Leu Ser Ser Ile Leu Gly
145 150 155 160
Asn Gly Leu Gly Gln Ser Met Ser Gly Phe Ser Gln Pro Ser Leu Gly
165 170 175
Ala Gly Gly Leu Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Ala Gly Ala Phe Asn Gln Leu
180 185 190
Gly Asn Ala Ile Gly Met Gly Val Gly Gln Asn Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala
195 200 205
Leu Ser Asn Val Ser Thr His Val Asp Gly Asn Asn Arg His Phe Val
210 215 220
Asp Lys Glu Asp Arg Gly Met Ala Lys Glu Ile Gly Gln Phe Met Asp
225 230 235 240
Gln Tyr Pro Glu Ile Phe Gly Lys Pro Glu Tyr Gln Lys Asp Gly Trp
245 250 255
Ser Ser Pro Lys Thr Asp Asp Lys Ser Trp Ala Lys Ala Leu Ser Lys
260 265 270
Pro Asp Asp Asp Gly Met Thr Gly Ala Ser Met Asp Lys Phe Arg Gln
275 280 285
Ala Met Gly Met Ile Lys Ser Ala Val Ala Gly Asp Thr Gly Asn Thr
290 295 300
Asn Leu Asn Leu Arg Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Leu Gly Ile Asp Ala
305 310 315 320
Ala Val Val Gly Asp Lys Ile Ala Asn Met Ser Leu Gly Lys Leu Ala
325 330 335
Asn Ala

2141 base pairs

nucleic acid

single

linear

DNA (genomic)

not provided

2
CGATTTTACC CGGGTGAACG TGCTATGACC GACAGCATCA CGGTATTCGA CACCGTTACG 60
GCGTTTATGG CCGCGATGAA CCGGCATCAG GCGGCGCGCT GGTCGCCGCA ATCCGGCGTC 120
GATCTGGTAT TTCAGTTTGG GGACACCGGG CGTGAACTCA TGATGCAGAT TCAGCCGGGG 180
CAGCAATATC CCGGCATGTT GCGCACGCTG CTCGCTCGTC GTTATCAGCA GGCGGCAGAG 240
TGCGATGGCT GCCATCTGTG CCTGAACGGC AGCGATGTAT TGATCCTCTG GTGGCCGCTG 300
CCGTCGGATC CCGGCAGTTA TCCGCAGGTG ATCGAACGTT TGTTTGAACT GGCGGGAATG 360
ACGTTGCCGT CGCTATCCAT AGCACCGACG GCGCGTCCGC AGACAGGGAA CGGACGCGCC 420
CGATCATTAA GATAAAGGCG GCTTTTTTTA TTGCAAAACG GTAACGGTGA GGAACCGTTT 480
CACCGTCGGC GTCACTCAGT AACAAGTATC CATCATGATG CCTACATCGG GATCGGCGTG 540
GGCATCCGTT GCAGATACTT TTGCGAACAC CTGACATGAA TGAGGAAACG AAATTATGCA 600
AATTACGATC AAAGCGCACA TCGGCGGTGA TTTGGGCGTC TCCGGTCTGG GGCTGGGTGC 660
TCAGGGACTG AAAGGACTGA ATTCCGCGGC TTCATCGCTG GGTTCCAGCG TGGATAAACT 720
GAGCAGCACC ATCGATAAGT TGACCTCCGC GCTGACTTCG ATGATGTTTG GCGGCGCGCT 780
GGCGCAGGGG CTGGGCGCCA GCTCGAAGGG GCTGGGGATG AGCAATCAAC TGGGCCAGTC 840
TTTCGGCAAT GGCGCGCAGG GTGCGAGCAA CCTGCTATCC GTACCGAAAT CCGGCGGCGA 900
TGCGTTGTCA AAAATGTTTG ATAAAGCGCT GGACGATCTG CTGGGTCATG ACACCGTGAC 960
CAAGCTGACT AACCAGAGCA ACCAACTGGC TAATTCAATG CTGAACGCCA GCCAGATGAC 1020
CCAGGGTAAT ATGAATGCGT TCGGCAGCGG TGTGAACAAC GCACTGTCGT CCATTCTCGG 1080
CAACGGTCTC GGCCAGTCGA TGAGTGGCTT CTCTCAGCCT TCTCTGGGGG CAGGCGGCTT 1140
GCAGGGCCTG AGCGGCGCGG GTGCATTCAA CCAGTTGGGT AATGCCATCG GCATGGGCGT 1200
GGGGCAGAAT GCTGCGCTGA GTGCGTTGAG TAACGTCAGC ACCCACGTAG ACGGTAACAA 1260
CCGCCACTTT GTAGATAAAG AAGATCGCGG CATGGCGAAA GAGATCGGCC AGTTTATGGA 1320
TCAGTATCCG GAAATATTCG GTAAACCGGA ATACCAGAAA GATGGCTGGA GTTCGCCGAA 1380
GACGGACGAC AAATCCTGGG CTAAAGCGCT GAGTAAACCG GATGATGACG GTATGACCGG 1440
CGCCAGCATG GACAAATTCC GTCAGGCGAT GGGTATGATC AAAAGCGCGG TGGCGGGTGA 1500
TACCGGCAAT ACCAACCTGA ACCTGCGTGG CGCGGGCGGT GCATCGCTGG GTATCGATGC 1560
GGCTGTCGTC GGCGATAAAA TAGCCAACAT GTCGCTGGGT AAGCTGGCCA ACGCCTGATA 1620
ATCTGTGCTG GCCTGATAAA GCGGAAACGA AAAAAGAGAC GGGGAAGCCT GTCTCTTTTC 1680
TTATTATGCG GTTTATGCGG TTACCTGGAC CGGTTAATCA TCGTCATCGA TCTGGTACAA 1740
ACGCACATTT TCCCGTTCAT TCGCGTCGTT ACGCGCCACA ATCGCGATGG CATCTTCCTC 1800
GTCGCTCAGA TTGCGCGGCT GATGGGGAAC GCCGGGTGGA ATATAGAGAA ACTCGCCGGC 1860
CAGATGGAGA CACGTCTGCG ATAAATCTGT GCCGTAACGT GTTTCTATCC GCCCCTTTAG 1920
CAGATAGATT GCGGTTTCGT AATCAACATG GTAATGCGGT TCCGCCTGTG CGCCGGCCGG 1980
GATCACCACA ATATTCATAG AAAGCTGTCT TGCACCTACC GTATCGCGGG AGATACCGAC 2040
AAAATAGGGC AGTTTTTGCG TGGTATCCGT GGGGTGTTCC GGCCTGACAA TCTTGAGTTG 2100
GTTCGTCATC ATCTTTCTCC ATCTGGGCGA CCTGATCGGT T 2141

403 amino acids

amino acid

linear

protein

not provided

3
Met Ser Leu Asn Thr Ser Gly Leu Gly Ala Ser Thr Met Gln Ile Ser
1 5 10 15
Ile Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Asn Asn Gly Leu Leu Gly Thr Ser Arg Gln
20 25 30
Asn Ala Gly Leu Gly Gly Asn Ser Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Gly Gly Asn
35 40 45
Gln Asn Asp Thr Val Asn Gln Leu Ala Gly Leu Leu Thr Gly Met Met
50 55 60
Met Met Met Ser Met Met Gly Gly Gly Gly Leu Met Gly Gly Gly Leu
65 70 75 80
Gly Gly Gly Leu Gly Asn Gly Leu Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Leu Gly Glu
85 90 95
Gly Leu Ser Asn Ala Leu Asn Asp Met Leu Gly Gly Ser Leu Asn Thr
100 105 110
Leu Gly Ser Lys Gly Gly Asn Asn Thr Thr Ser Thr Thr Asn Ser Pro
115 120 125
Leu Asp Gln Ala Leu Gly Ile Asn Ser Thr Ser Gln Asn Asp Asp Ser
130 135 140
Thr Ser Gly Thr Asp Ser Thr Ser Asp Ser Ser Asp Pro Met Gln Gln
145 150 155 160
Leu Leu Lys Met Phe Ser Glu Ile Met Gln Ser Leu Phe Gly Asp Gly
165 170 175
Gln Asp Gly Thr Gln Gly Ser Ser Ser Gly Gly Lys Gln Pro Thr Glu
180 185 190
Gly Glu Gln Asn Ala Tyr Lys Lys Gly Val Thr Asp Ala Leu Ser Gly
195 200 205
Leu Met Gly Asn Gly Leu Ser Gln Leu Leu Gly Asn Gly Gly Leu Gly
210 215 220
Gly Gly Gln Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly Thr Gly Leu Asp Gly Ser Ser Leu
225 230 235 240
Gly Gly Lys Gly Leu Gln Asn Leu Ser Gly Pro Val Asp Tyr Gln Gln
245 250 255
Leu Gly Asn Ala Val Gly Thr Gly Ile Gly Met Lys Ala Gly Ile Gln
260 265 270
Ala Leu Asn Asp Ile Gly Thr His Arg His Ser Ser Thr Arg Ser Phe
275 280 285
Val Asn Lys Gly Asp Arg Ala Met Ala Lys Glu Ile Gly Gln Phe Met
290 295 300
Asp Gln Tyr Pro Glu Val Phe Gly Lys Pro Gln Tyr Gln Lys Gly Pro
305 310 315 320
Gly Gln Glu Val Lys Thr Asp Asp Lys Ser Trp Ala Lys Ala Leu Ser
325 330 335
Lys Pro Asp Asp Asp Gly Met Thr Pro Ala Ser Met Glu Gln Phe Asn
340 345 350
Lys Ala Lys Gly Met Ile Lys Arg Pro Met Ala Gly Asp Thr Gly Asn
355 360 365
Gly Asn Leu Gln Ala Arg Gly Ala Gly Gly Ser Ser Leu Gly Ile Asp
370 375 380
Ala Met Met Ala Gly Asp Ala Ile Asn Asn Met Ala Leu Gly Lys Leu
385 390 395 400
Gly Ala Ala

1288 base pairs

nucleic acid

single

linear

DNA (genomic)

not provided

4
AAGCTTCGGC ATGGCACGTT TGACCGTTGG GTCGGCAGGG TACGTTTGAA TTATTCATAA 60
GAGGAATACG TTATGAGTCT GAATACAAGT GGGCTGGGAG CGTCAACGAT GCAAATTTCT 120
ATCGGCGGTG CGGGCGGAAA TAACGGGTTG CTGGGTACCA GTCGCCAGAA TGCTGGGTTG 180
GGTGGCAATT CTGCACTGGG GCTGGGCGGC GGTAATCAAA ATGATACCGT CAATCAGCTG 240
GCTGGCTTAC TCACCGGCAT GATGATGATG ATGAGCATGA TGGGCGGTGG TGGGCTGATG 300
GGCGGTGGCT TAGGCGGTGG CTTAGGTAAT GGCTTGGGTG GCTCAGGTGG CCTGGGCGAA 360
GGACTGTCGA ACGCGCTGAA CGATATGTTA GGCGGTTCGC TGAACACGCT GGGCTCGAAA 420
GGCGGCAACA ATACCACTTC AACAACAAAT TCCCCGCTGG ACCAGGCGCT GGGTATTAAC 480
TCAACGTCCC AAAACGACGA TTCCACCTCC GGCACAGATT CCACCTCAGA CTCCAGCGAC 540
CCGATGCAGC AGCTGCTGAA GATGTTCAGC GAGATAATGC AAAGCCTGTT TGGTGATGGG 600
CAAGATGGCA CCCAGGGCAG TTCCTCTGGG GGCAAGCAGC CGACCGAAGG CGAGCAGAAC 660
GCCTATAAAA AAGGAGTCAC TGATGCGCTG TCGGGCCTGA TGGGTAATGG TCTGAGCCAG 720
CTCCTTGGCA ACGGGGGACT GGGAGGTGGT CAGGGCGGTA ATGCTGGCAC GGGTCTTGAC 780
GGTTCGTCGC TGGGCGGCAA AGGGCTGCAA AACCTGAGCG GGCCGGTGGA CTACCAGCAG 840
TTAGGTAACG CCGTGGGTAC CGGTATCGGT ATGAAAGCGG GCATTCAGGC GCTGAATGAT 900
ATCGGTACGC ACAGGCACAG TTCAACCCGT TCTTTCGTCA ATAAAGGCGA TCGGGCGATG 960
GCGAAGGAAA TCGGTCAGTT CATGGACCAG TATCCTGAGG TGTTTGGCAA GCCGCAGTAC 1020
CAGAAAGGCC CGGGTCAGGA GGTGAAAACC GATGACAAAT CATGGGCAAA AGCACTGAGC 1080
AAGCCAGATG ACGACGGAAT GACACCAGCC AGTATGGAGC AGTTCAACAA AGCCAAGGGC 1140
ATGATCAAAA GGCCCATGGC GGGTGATACC GGCAACGGCA ACCTGCAGGC ACGCGGTGCC 1200
GGTGGTTCTT CGCTGGGTAT TGATGCCATG ATGGCCGGTG ATGCCATTAA CAATATGGCA 1260
CTTGGCAAGC TGGGCGCGGC TTAAGCTT 1288

341 amino acids

amino acid

linear

protein

not provided

5
Met Gln Ser Leu Ser Leu Asn Ser Ser Ser Leu Gln Thr Pro Ala Met
1 5 10 15
Ala Leu Val Leu Val Arg Pro Glu Ala Glu Thr Thr Gly Ser Thr Ser
20 25 30
Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln Glu Val Val Val Lys Leu Ala Glu Glu Leu Met
35 40 45
Arg Asn Gly Gln Leu Asp Asp Ser Ser Pro Leu Gly Lys Leu Leu Ala
50 55 60
Lys Ser Met Ala Ala Asp Gly Lys Ala Gly Gly Gly Ile Glu Asp Val
65 70 75 80
Ile Ala Ala Leu Asp Lys Leu Ile His Glu Lys Leu Gly Asp Asn Phe
85 90 95
Gly Ala Ser Ala Asp Ser Ala Ser Gly Thr Gly Gln Gln Asp Leu Met
100 105 110
Thr Gln Val Leu Asn Gly Leu Ala Lys Ser Met Leu Asp Asp Leu Leu
115 120 125
Thr Lys Gln Asp Gly Gly Thr Ser Phe Ser Glu Asp Asp Met Pro Met
130 135 140
Leu Asn Lys Ile Ala Gln Phe Met Asp Asp Asn Pro Ala Gln Phe Pro
145 150 155 160
Lys Pro Asp Ser Gly Ser Trp Val Asn Glu Leu Lys Glu Asp Asn Phe
165 170 175
Leu Asp Gly Asp Glu Thr Ala Ala Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Asp Ile Ile
180 185 190
Gly Gln Gln Leu Gly Asn Gln Gln Ser Asp Ala Gly Ser Leu Ala Gly
195 200 205
Thr Gly Gly Gly Leu Gly Thr Pro Ser Ser Phe Ser Asn Asn Ser Ser
210 215 220
Val Met Gly Asp Pro Leu Ile Asp Ala Asn Thr Gly Pro Gly Asp Ser
225 230 235 240
Gly Asn Thr Arg Gly Glu Ala Gly Gln Leu Ile Gly Glu Leu Ile Asp
245 250 255
Arg Gly Leu Gln Ser Val Leu Ala Gly Gly Gly Leu Gly Thr Pro Val
260 265 270
Asn Thr Pro Gln Thr Gly Thr Ser Ala Asn Gly Gly Gln Ser Ala Gln
275 280 285
Asp Leu Asp Gln Leu Leu Gly Gly Leu Leu Leu Lys Gly Leu Glu Ala
290 295 300
Thr Leu Lys Asp Ala Gly Gln Thr Gly Thr Asp Val Gln Ser Ser Ala
305 310 315 320
Ala Gln Ile Ala Thr Leu Leu Val Ser Thr Leu Leu Gln Gly Thr Arg
325 330 335
Asn Gln Ala Ala Ala
340

1026 base pairs

nucleic acid

single

linear

DNA (genomic)

not provided

6
ATGCAGAGTC TCAGTCTTAA CAGCAGCTCG CTGCAAACCC CGGCAATGGC CCTTGTCCTG 60
GTACGTCCTG AAGCCGAGAC GACTGGCAGT ACGTCGAGCA AGGCGCTTCA GGAAGTTGTC 120
GTGAAGCTGG CCGAGGAACT GATGCGCAAT GGTCAACTCG ACGACAGCTC GCCATTGGGA 180
AAACTGTTGG CCAAGTCGAT GGCCGCAGAT GGCAAGGCGG GCGGCGGTAT TGAGGATGTC 240
ATCGCTGCGC TGGACAAGCT GATCCATGAA AAGCTCGGTG ACAACTTCGG CGCGTCTGCG 300
GACAGCGCCT CGGGTACCGG ACAGCAGGAC CTGATGACTC AGGTGCTCAA TGGCCTGGCC 360
AAGTCGATGC TCGATGATCT TCTGACCAAG CAGGATGGCG GGACAAGCTT CTCCGAAGAC 420
GATATGCCGA TGCTGAACAA GATCGCGCAG TTCATGGATG ACAATCCCGC ACAGTTTCCC 480
AAGCCGGACT CGGGCTCCTG GGTGAACGAA CTCAAGGAAG ACAACTTCCT TGATGGCGAC 540
GAAACGGCTG CGTTCCGTTC GGCACTCGAC ATCATTGGCC AGCAACTGGG TAATCAGCAG 600
AGTGACGCTG GCAGTCTGGC AGGGACGGGT GGAGGTCTGG GCACTCCGAG CAGTTTTTCC 660
AACAACTCGT CCGTGATGGG TGATCCGCTG ATCGACGCCA ATACCGGTCC CGGTGACAGC 720
GGCAATACCC GTGGTGAAGC GGGGCAACTG ATCGGCGAGC TTATCGACCG TGGCCTGCAA 780
TCGGTATTGG CCGGTGGTGG ACTGGGCACA CCCGTAAACA CCCCGCAGAC CGGTACGTCG 840
GCGAATGGCG GACAGTCCGC TCAGGATCTT GATCAGTTGC TGGGCGGCTT GCTGCTCAAG 900
GGCCTGGAGG CAACGCTCAA GGATGCCGGG CAAACAGGCA CCGACGTGCA GTCGAGCGCT 960
GCGCAAATCG CCACCTTGCT GGTCAGTACG CTGCTGCAAG GCACCCGCAA TCAGGCTGCA 1020
GCCTGA 1026

344 amino acids

amino acid

linear

protein

not provided

7
Met Ser Val Gly Asn Ile Gln Ser Pro Ser Asn Leu Pro Gly Leu Gln
1 5 10 15
Asn Leu Asn Leu Asn Thr Asn Thr Asn Ser Gln Gln Ser Gly Gln Ser
20 25 30
Val Gln Asp Leu Ile Lys Gln Val Glu Lys Asp Ile Leu Asn Ile Ile
35 40 45
Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Lys Ala Ala Gln Ser Ala Gly Gly Asn Thr Gly
50 55 60
Asn Thr Gly Asn Ala Pro Ala Lys Asp Gly Asn Ala Asn Ala Gly Ala
65 70 75 80
Asn Asp Pro Ser Lys Asn Asp Pro Ser Lys Ser Gln Ala Pro Gln Ser
85 90 95
Ala Asn Lys Thr Gly Asn Val Asp Asp Ala Asn Asn Gln Asp Pro Met
100 105 110
Gln Ala Leu Met Gln Leu Leu Glu Asp Leu Val Lys Leu Leu Lys Ala
115 120 125
Ala Leu His Met Gln Gln Pro Gly Gly Asn Asp Lys Gly Asn Gly Val
130 135 140
Gly Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala Lys Gly Ala Gly Gly Gln Gly Gly Leu Ala
145 150 155 160
Glu Ala Leu Gln Glu Ile Glu Gln Ile Leu Ala Gln Leu Gly Gly Gly
165 170 175
Gly Ala Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly Val Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly
180 185 190
Ala Asp Gly Gly Ser Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala
195 200 205
Asp Gly Gly Asn Gly Val Asn Gly Asn Gln Ala Asn Gly Pro Gln Asn
210 215 220
Ala Gly Asp Val Asn Gly Ala Asn Gly Ala Asp Asp Gly Ser Glu Asp
225 230 235 240
Gln Gly Gly Leu Thr Gly Val Leu Gln Lys Leu Met Lys Ile Leu Asn
245 250 255
Ala Leu Val Gln Met Met Gln Gln Gly Gly Leu Gly Gly Gly Asn Gln
260 265 270
Ala Gln Gly Gly Ser Lys Gly Ala Gly Asn Ala Ser Pro Ala Ser Gly
275 280 285
Ala Asn Pro Gly Ala Asn Gln Pro Gly Ser Ala Asp Asp Gln Ser Ser
290 295 300
Gly Gln Asn Asn Leu Gln Ser Gln Ile Met Asp Val Val Lys Glu Val
305 310 315 320
Val Gln Ile Leu Gln Gln Met Leu Ala Ala Gln Asn Gly Gly Ser Gln
325 330 335
Gln Ser Thr Ser Thr Gln Pro Met
340

1035 base pairs

nucleic acid

single

linear

DNA (genomic)

not provided

8
ATGTCAGTCG GAAACATCCA GAGCCCGTCG AACCTCCCGG GTCTGCAGAA CCTGAACCTC 60
AACACCAACA CCAACAGCCA GCAATCGGGC CAGTCCGTGC AAGACCTGAT CAAGCAGGTC 120
GAGAAGGACA TCCTCAACAT CATCGCAGCC CTCGTGCAGA AGGCCGCACA GTCGGCGGGC 180
GGCAACACCG GTAACACCGG CAACGCGCCG GCGAAGGACG GCAATGCCAA CGCGGGCGCC 240
AACGACCCGA GCAAGAACGA CCCGAGCAAG AGCCAGGCTC CGCAGTCGGC CAACAAGACC 300
GGCAACGTCG ACGACGCCAA CAACCAGGAT CCGATGCAAG CGCTGATGCA GCTGCTGGAA 360
GACCTGGTGA AGCTGCTGAA GGCGGCCCTG CACATGCAGC AGCCCGGCGG CAATGACAAG 420
GGCAACGGCG TGGGCGGTGC CAACGGCGCC AAGGGTGCCG GCGGCCAGGG CGGCCTGGCC 480
GAAGCGCTGC AGGAGATCGA GCAGATCCTC GCCCAGCTCG GCGGCGGCGG TGCTGGCGCC 540
GGCGGCGCGG GTGGCGGTGT CGGCGGTGCT GGTGGCGCGG ATGGCGGCTC CGGTGCGGGT 600
GGCGCAGGCG GTGCGAACGG CGCCGACGGC GGCAATGGCG TGAACGGCAA CCAGGCGAAC 660
GGCCCGCAGA ACGCAGGCGA TGTCAACGGT GCCAACGGCG CGGATGACGG CAGCGAAGAC 720
CAGGGCGGCC TCACCGGCGT GCTGCAAAAG CTGATGAAGA TCCTGAACGC GCTGGTGCAG 780
ATGATGCAGC AAGGCGGCCT CGGCGGCGGC AACCAGGCGC AGGGCGGCTC GAAGGGTGCC 840
GGCAACGCCT CGCCGGCTTC CGGCGCGAAC CCGGGCGCGA ACCAGCCCGG TTCGGCGGAT 900
GATCAATCGT CCGGCCAGAA CAATCTGCAA TCCCAGATCA TGGATGTGGT GAAGGAGGTC 960
GTCCAGATCC TGCAGCAGAT GCTGGCGGCG CAGAACGGCG GCAGCCAGCA GTCCACCTCG 1020
ACGCAGCCGA TGTAA 1035

26 amino acids

amino acid

linear

protein

not provided

9
Thr Leu Ile Glu Leu Met Ile Val Val Ala Ile Ile Ala Ile Leu Ala
1 5 10 15
Ala Ile Ala Leu Pro Ala Tyr Gln Asp Tyr
20 25

20 amino acids

amino acid

linear

protein

not provided

10
Ser Ser Gln Gln Ser Pro Ser Ala Gly Ser Glu Gln Gln Leu Asp Gln
1 5 10 15
Leu Leu Ala Met
20

Claims

1. A method of enhancing growth in plants compared to untreated plants comprising:applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to a plant or plant seed under conditions effective to enhance growth of the plant or plants grown from the plant seed, compared to an untreated plant or plant seed, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide is heat stable, glycine rich, and contains no cysteine.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein is in isolated form.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein corresponds to that derived from a pathogen selected from the group consisting of Erwinia, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and mixtures thereof.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein corresponds to that derived from Erwinia chrysanthemum.
5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein corresponds to that derived from Erwinia amylovora.
6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein corresponds to that derived from Pseudomonas syringae.
7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein corresponds to that derived from Pseudomonas solanacearum.
8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein corresponds to that derived from Xanthomonas campestris.
9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of dicots and monocots.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, wheat, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, corn, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, soybean, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, and sugarcane.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rose, Saintpaulia, petunia, pelargonium, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, carnation, and zinnia.
12. A method according to claim 2, wherein plants are treated during said applying which is carried out by spraying, injection, or leaf abrasion at a time proximate to when said applying takes place.
13. A method according to claim 2, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying which is carried out by spraying, injection, coating, dusting, or immersion.
14. A method according to claim 2, wherein the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein is applied to plants or plant seeds as a composition further comprising a carrier.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, and powders.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the composition contains greater than 0.5 nM of the hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein.
17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the composition further contains additives selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematacide, and mixtures thereof.
18. A method according to claim 2, wherein said applying causes infiltration of the polypeptide or protein into the plant.
19. A method according to claim 2, wherein said applying effects increased plant height, compared to an untreated plant or plant seed.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein plants are treated during said applying.
21. A method according to claim 19, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor in natural or artificial soil and propagating the plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
22. A method according to claim 2, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying to increase plant seed quantities which germinate, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in natural or artificial soil and propagating plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
23. A method according to claim 2, wherein said applying effects greater yield, compared to an untreated plant or plant seed.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein plants are treated during said applying.
25. A method according to claim 23, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in natural or artificial soil and propagating plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
26. A method according to claim 2, wherein said applying effects earlier germination, compared to an untreated plant or plant seed.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in natural or artificial soil and propagating plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
28. A method according to claim 2, wherein said applying effects earlier maturation, compared to an untreated plant or plant seed.
29. A method according to claim 28, wherein plants are treated during said applying.
30. A method according to claim 28, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in natural or artificial soil and propagating plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
31. A method according to claim 2, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in natural or artificial soil and propagating plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
32. A method according to claim 31 further comprising:applying the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in a non-infectious form to the propagated plants to enhance growth further.
33. A method according to claim 2, wherein said applying effects earlier fruit and plant coloration, compared to an untreated plant of plant seed.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein plant seeds are treated during said applying, said method further comprising:planting the seeds treated with the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in natural or artificial soil and propagating plants from the seeds planted in the soil.
35. A method of enhancing growth in plants compared to untreated plants comprising:applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein, corresponding to that derived from a Phylophthora species, in a non-infectious form, to a plant or plant seed under conditions effective to enhance growth of the plant of plants grown from the plant seed, compared to an untreated plant or plant seed.

Parent Case Info

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/036,048, filed Jan. 27, 1997.

Government Interests

This invention was made with support from the U.S. Government under USDA NRI Competitive Research Grant No. 91-37303-6430.

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Provisional Applications (1)

	Number	Date	Country
	60/036048	Jan 1997	US

Enhancement of growth in plants

Information

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Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

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Abstract

Description

Claims

Parent Case Info

Government Interests

US Referenced Citations (22)

Foreign Referenced Citations (12)

Non-Patent Literature Citations (126)

Provisional Applications (1)