Journal of Plant Pathology (2007) 89, p. S64 (Woo et al.)

S.L. Woo, M. Ruocco, F. Vinale, R. Marra, S. Lanzuise, D. Turrà, V. Aloj, P. Marinelli, C.P. Kubicek, I. Druzhinina and M. Lorito (2007)
Characterization and identification of new Trichoderma species compromising the commercial production of Pleurotus in Italy
Journal of Plant Pathology 89 (3, Suppl.), S64-S64
Poster Presentation at S.I.Pa.V XIV National Meeting - Perugia, Italy 19-21 Sept. 2007
Abstract: Trichoderma spp. attacks to Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) cutivations are relatively recent, and new to Italy. Previously, Trichoderma aggressivum forms have caused severe green mould epidemics in Agaricus bisporus (champignon) in North America and Europe. It is unknown if Trichoderma spp. compromising the production of oyster mushrooms are the same as those causing disease to champignons. Samples were collected from all phases of P. ostreatus production; isolated by dilution plating, and pure Trichoderma cultures were obtained. Fungal species, including Trichoderma, were recovered in the initial compost stages (CFU's 9.2×10⁴ to 2.9×10⁸ per g of compost), were not detected in post-pasteurization or grain spawn inoculation, but were present in subsequent stages of incubation and fructification (CFU's 5.2×10⁶ to 4.1×10⁸ per g). The phenotypic, genetic and biological characters of all isolates were analyzed. Trichoderma isolates problematic to P. ostreatus differed in mycelial growth and sporulation from isolates used in biological control and from the forms pathogenic to A. bisporus, and they were not mycoparasitic to P. ostreatus. Genetic markers specific to the two T. aggressivum forms attacking Agaricus were not detected in any of the Trichoderma spp. associated with P. ostreatus. Identity analysis using ITS sequences, TrichOkey (www.isth.info) and NCBI BLAST indicated that many of the Trichoderma isolates associated with P. ostreatus were not similar to any existing species. These isolates are taxonomically distinct and have been identified as two new species, T. fulvum sp. nov. and T. pleurotophilum sp. nov.
Database assignments for author(s): Sheridan L. Woo, Francesco Vinale, Roberta Marra, Michelina Ruocco

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Trichoderma (anamorphic genus)	Pleurotus (crop)	Italy