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Hypocrea rufa/Trichoderma viride: A Reassessment, and Description of Five Closely Related Species with and Without Warted Conidia

Summary

This research redefined and clarified the identity of an important fungal species, Trichoderma viride, which has been frequently misidentified in scientific literature. The study showed that what was thought to be a single species is actually several different but related species. This has important implications because these fungi are widely used in agriculture and industry. Impacts on everyday life: – Improved accuracy in identifying beneficial fungi used in agriculture and biological control – Better quality control for industrial processes using these fungi – More reliable research results when studying these organisms – Enhanced understanding of fungal diversity in natural environments – More effective use of these fungi in sustainable agriculture practices

Background

Trichoderma viride is one of the most commonly reported fungal species, appearing in nearly 200 articles in just 2004-2005. It is encountered in diverse contexts including organochlorine degradation, biological control of plant diseases, mushroom diseases, seed germination effects, phosphorus uptake enhancement, enzyme production, cellulose degradation, and as a soil inhabitant. However, there are concerns about misidentification of strains reported as T. viride in the literature, similar to findings with T. harzianum strains.

Objective

To re-define and epitypify the type species of the genus Hypocrea (H. rufa) and its anamorph T. viride using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of translation-elongation factor 1α gene sequences. To describe and characterize closely related species within this group.

Results

The study revealed that H. rufa/T. viride represents multiple distinct species. Five new species were described: Hypocrea viridescens/T. viridescens, T. vinosum, T. gamsii, T. neokoningii, and T. scalesiae. These species can be distinguished by a combination of morphological features including conidial ornamentation, size and shape, growth rates, and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The research showed that contrary to frequent citations, true H. rufa/T. viride is relatively rare.

Conclusion

The classical morphological concept of T. viride as a green-conidial species with globose, warted conidia is paraphyletic. The study distinguished two common species with warted conidia and described several new related species. The integration of phenotypic and phylogenetic characters was crucial for species recognition. The findings demonstrate that many historical reports of T. viride likely refer to different species, highlighting the importance of accurate species identification in this economically important genus.
  • Published in:Studies in Mycology,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: 10.3114/sim.2006.56.04
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