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Title: Trichoderma amazonicum, a new endophytic species on Hevea brasiliensis and H. guianensis from the Amazon basin

Author
item CHAVERRI, P. - University Of Maryland
item GAZIS, R.O. - University Of Maryland
item Samuels, Gary

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2010
Publication Date: 1/17/2011
Citation: Chaverri, P., Gazis, R., Samuels, G.J. 2011. Trichoderma amazonicum, a new endophytic species on Hevea brasiliensis and H. guianensis from the Amazon basin. Mycologia. 103(1):139-151.

Interpretive Summary: Fungi in the genus Trichoderma are found inside healthy living plants as endophytes and can also be used to control their diseases. Rubber trees harbor a number of endophytic fungi that serve as such biological control agents. One of these fungi was discovered to be a species never before known. In this paper a new species of Trichoderma from rubber trees in South America is described, illustrated and characterized genetically. This research will be used by plant pathologists who are working to develop fungi that control fungal diseases of rubber.

Technical Abstract: A new species of Trichoderma (teleomorph Hypocrea, Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes, Hypocreales, Hypocreaceae), T. amazonicum, endophytic on the living sapwood and leaves of Hevea spp. trees is described. Trichoderma amazonicum is distinguished from closely related species in the Harzianum clade (e.g. Hypocrea alni, H. brunneoviridis, H. epimyces, H. parepimyces, T. aggressivum, T. harzianum, T. pleuroticola, and T. pleurotum) by morphological and ecological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of three loci (ITS nrDNA, tef1, and rpb2). The closest relatives of this species are the facultatively fungicolous species T. pleuroticola and T. pleurotum.