MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Discovery from a Large-Scaled Survey of Trichoderma in Soil of China

Summary

This research conducted an extensive survey of soil fungi across China, discovering 23 new species of the genus Trichoderma. These fungi are important because they can help protect plants from diseases, break down plant material, and clean up environmental pollution. The study shows that China has many unique species of these beneficial fungi, especially in natural, undisturbed areas. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps identify new fungal species that could be used to develop better biological control agents for crop protection – Provides information about beneficial soil organisms that maintain healthy ecosystems – Could lead to discovery of new strains for industrial applications like biofuel production – Contributes to understanding soil biodiversity conservation – Demonstrates the importance of protecting natural areas for preserving microbial diversity

Background

The genus Trichoderma is widespread and can be found in soil, decaying wood, or other fungi. Species are ecologically and economically important, with applications in industrial cellulose production, biocontrol of plant pathogens, and soil/water pollution remediation. Previous studies have focused on soil-inhabiting species but knowledge remains limited due to insufficient identification methods and sampling primarily in farmlands rather than diverse natural areas.

Objective

To conduct the first large-scale survey of soil-inhabiting Trichoderma species across 23 provinces of China to assess species diversity, with a focus on discovering and characterizing new species belonging to green-ascospored clades.

Results

Twenty-three new species belonging to green-ascospored clades were discovered and characterized in detail. Most new species were isolated from southern China, with only two from northern regions. A new phylogenetic clade (Spirale Clade) was established. The Helicum Clade was expanded with three additional species. Fifteen new species were added to the Harzianum Clade, altering previously understood relationships within this group.

Conclusion

China represents a hotspot of Trichoderma species diversity, with over 60 new species established from Chinese materials in recent studies. However, knowledge remains insufficient compared to European surveys. The study demonstrates high species diversity in natural, undisturbed areas compared to farmlands, particularly in southern China. Further extensive surveys in unexplored areas are required to fully understand Trichoderma diversity in China.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Survey Study,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41598-017-07807-3
Scroll to Top