AUTHOR=Nascimento Brito Vanessa , Lana Alves Janaina , Sírio Araújo Kaliane , de Souza Leite Tiago , Borges de Queiroz Casley , Liparini Pereira Olinto , de Queiroz Marisa Vieira 

TITLE=Endophytic Trichoderma species from rubber trees native to the Brazilian Amazon, including four new species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1095199

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1095199

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Fungi belonging to the genus <italic>Trichoderma</italic> have been widely recognized as efficient controllers of plant diseases. Although the majority of isolates currently deployed, thus far, have been isolated from soil, endophytic <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. is considered to be a promising option for application in biocontrol. In this study, 30 endophytic <italic>Trichoderma</italic> isolates—obtained from the leaves, stems, and roots of wild <italic>Hevea</italic> spp. in the Brazilian Amazon—were analyzed using specific DNA barcodes: sequences of internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 of rDNA (ITS region), genes encoding translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1<italic>-α</italic>), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (<italic>RPB</italic>2). The genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) concept was used for species delimitation. A phylogenetic analysis showed the occurrence of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> species, such as <italic>T</italic>. <italic>erinaceum</italic>, <italic>T</italic>. <italic>ovalisporum</italic>, <italic>T</italic>. <italic>koningiopsis</italic>, <italic>T</italic>. <italic>sparsum</italic>, <italic>T</italic>. <italic>lentiforme</italic>, <italic>T</italic>. <italic>virens</italic>, and <italic>T</italic>. <italic>spirale</italic>. Molecular and morphological features resulted in the discovery of four new species, such as <italic>T</italic>. <italic>acreanum</italic> sp. nov., <italic>T</italic>. <italic>ararianum</italic> sp. nov., <italic>T</italic>. <italic>heveae</italic> sp. nov., and <italic>T</italic>. <italic>brasiliensis</italic> sp. nov. The BI and ML analyses shared a similar topology, providing high support to the final trees. The phylograms show three distinct subclades, namely, <italic>T</italic>. <italic>acreanum</italic> and <italic>T</italic>. <italic>ararianum</italic> being paraphyletic with <italic>T</italic>. <italic>koningiopsis</italic>; <italic>T</italic>. <italic>heveae</italic> with <italic>T</italic>. <italic>subviride</italic>; and <italic>T</italic>. <italic>brasiliensis</italic> with <italic>T</italic>. <italic>brevicompactum</italic>. This study adds to our knowledge of the diversity of endophytic <italic>Trichoderma</italic> species in Neotropical forests and reveals new potential biocontrol agents for the management of plant diseases.</p>