Seven wood-inhabiting new species of the genus Trichoderma (Fungi, Ascomycota) in Viride clade

Abstract

More than 200 recent collections of Trichoderma from China were examined and 16 species belonging to the Viride clade were identified based on integrated studies of phenotypic and molecular data. Among them, seven wood-inhabiting new species, T. albofulvopsis, T. densum, T. laevisporum, T. sinokoningii, T. sparsum, T. sphaerosporum and T. subviride, are found. They form trichoderma- to verticillium-like conidiophores, lageniform to subulate phialides and globose to ellipsoidal conidia, but vary greatly in colony features, growth rates, and sizes of phialides and conidia. To explore their taxonomic positions, the phylogenetic tree including all the known species of the Viride clade is constructed based on sequence analyses of the combined RNA polymerase II subunit b and translation elongation factor 1 alpha exon genes. Our results indicated that the seven new species were well-located in the Koningii, Rogersonii and Neorufum subclades as well as a few independent terminal branches. They are clearly distinguishable from any existing species. Morphological distinctions and sequence divergences between the new species and their close relatives were discussed.

A new species of Trichoderma hypoxylon harbours abundant secondary metabolites

“…Phylogenetic analysis has resulted in the discovery of many new species and has been extensively used in fungal taxonomy28. Presently, more than 258 species of Trichoderma are accepted based on phylogenetic analysis510. However, many species of Trichoderma remain to be discovered and described56.…”

“…Most species in this genus are usually fast growing, produce highly branched conidiophores with cylindrical to nearly subglobose phialides and ellipsoidal to globose conidia1234. However, high morphological homoplasy in sexual state makes identification difficult, and the importance of sequence data have been increased56. Based on the combined phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, about 260 species have been recognized and accepted5678910.…”

“…However, high morphological homoplasy in sexual state makes identification difficult, and the importance of sequence data have been increased56. Based on the combined phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, about 260 species have been recognized and accepted5678910. The internal transcript spacers (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RBP2) genes are more available to recognize species within Trichoderma 5910.…”

“…Based on the combined phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, about 260 species have been recognized and accepted5678910. The internal transcript spacers (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RBP2) genes are more available to recognize species within Trichoderma 5910. Phylogenetic analysis based on a combination of ITS, TEF1-α and RBP2 are recommended solve the problem of Trichoderma species complex and reveal taxonomic deversity267891011.…”

“…Some metabolites produced by the species in this genus play very important ecological roles in nature15. Trichoderma species are most frequently found in vegetable matter, decaying wood and soil, plant rhizosphere, as well as on other fungi5616. Fungicolous Trichoderma species comprise diversity and abundant genes associated with secondary metabolites productivity1516.…”