Described are the use of the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae for promoting plant vegetative growth, methods for promoting plant vegetative growth by making use of Colletotrichum tofieldiae and compositions for promoting plant vegetative growth containing Colletotrichum tofieldiae.
1. Use of a microorganism of the species Colletotrichum tofieldiae for promoting vegetative plant growth. 2. A method for promoting vegetative plant growth comprising the step of contacting the roots of a plant or the seeds of a plant with the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae. 3. The use of claim 1 or the method of claim 2 wherein the microorganism is in the form of spores. 4. The use of claim 1 or the method of claim 2 wherein the microorganism is in the form of hyphae or sclerotia. 5. The use of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein the microorganism is applied to the plants by contacting plant seeds with the microorganism. 6. The use of claim 5 wherein the microorganism is contained in a composition being in fluid form, in a paste-like form or in the form of a powder. 7. The use of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein the microorganism is applied to the roots of plants. 8. The use of any one of claims 1 and 3 to 7 or the method of any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the plant is grown under phosphate-limiting conditions. 9. The use of claims 1 and 3 to 7 or the method of any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the plant is grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions. 10. A plant vegetative growth promoting composition containing the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae and optionally a carrier. 11. The composition of claim 10 which is in the form of an emulsion. 12. The composition of claim 10 which is in the form of a powder. 13. A plant seed coated with the microorganism Colletotrichum tofieldiae.