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Trichoderma tlahuicanensis sp. nov. (Hypocreaceae), a novel mycoparasite of Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophthora capsici isolated from a traditional Mexican milpa

Summary

Scientists discovered a new fungus species called Trichoderma tlahuicanensis from traditional Mexican farming systems. This fungus can attack and kill harmful plant-disease fungi like those that infect chili peppers, making it valuable for natural crop protection. Using advanced DNA sequencing and analysis, researchers confirmed it is truly a distinct species with potential as an eco-friendly biocontrol agent.

Background

The genus Trichoderma encompasses fungi with key ecological and biotechnological roles including mycoparasitism against plant pathogens, plant growth promotion, and stress tolerance. The milpa agroecosystem of Mexico represents an underexplored reservoir of microbial diversity that warrants systematic investigation.

Objective

To characterize strain BMH-0061 isolated as a root endophyte from chili plants in a Mexican milpa system and evaluate its taxonomic status as a potentially novel Trichoderma species using integrative phylophenetic analysis combining genomic and phenotypic data.

Results

The strain exhibited a BUSCO completeness of 99.08% and a 39.9 Mb genome with seven nuclear chromosomes. ANI values ranged from 83.93% to 94.43% with closest relatives, supporting its distinction as a separate lineage. Phylogenetic and speciation analyses consistently recovered BMH-0061 as an independent lineage with strong Bayesian support. The strain demonstrated broad-spectrum mycoparasitism against both tested phytopathogens.

Conclusion

Trichoderma tlahuicanensis sp. nov. is formally described as a novel species distinct from known Trichoderma relatives. The integrative phylophenetic framework combining genomic, phylogenetic, and phenotypic analyses provides a powerful approach for fungal species delimitation. This work demonstrates the biotechnological potential of T. tlahuicanensis as a biocontrol agent while highlighting the milpa system as a valuable source of microbial diversity.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Original Research - Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41395474
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