Trichoderma species occurring on wood with decay symptoms in mountain forests in Central Europe: genetic and enzymatic characterization.

Lidia Błaszczyk,Joanna Kaczmarek,Agnieszka Gąbka-Buszek,Jerzy Chełkowski,Judyta Strakowska

doi:10.1007/s13353-015-0326-1

Lidia Błaszczyk, Joanna Kaczmarek + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-015-0326-1

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the species diversity of Trichoderma obtained from samples of wood collected in the forests of the Gorce Mountains (location A), Karkonosze Mountains (location B) and Tatra Mountains (location C) in Central Europe and to examine the cellulolytic and xylanolytic activity of these species as an expression of their probable role in wood decay processes. The present study has led to the identification of the following species and species complex: Trichoderma atroviride P. Karst., Trichoderma citrinoviride Bissett, Trichoderma cremeum P. Chaverri & Samuels, Trichoderma gamsii Samuels & Druzhin., Trichoderma harzianum complex, Trichoderma koningii Oudem., Trichoderma koningiopsis Samuels, C. Suárez & H.C. Evans, Trichoderma longibrachiatum Rifai, Trichoderma longipile Bissett, Trichoderma sp. (Hypocrea parapilulifera B.S. Lu, Druzhin. & Samuels), Trichoderma viride Schumach. and Trichoderma viridescens complex. Among them, T. viride was observed as the most abundant species (53 % of all isolates) in all the investigated locations. The Shannon’s biodiversity index (H), evenness (E), and the Simpson’s biodiversity index (D) calculations for each location showed that the highest species diversity and evenness were recorded for location A—Gorce Mountains (H′ = 1.71, E = 0.82, D = 0.79). The preliminary screening of 119 Trichoderma strains for cellulolytic and xylanolytic activity showed the real potential of all Trichoderma species originating from wood with decay symptoms to produce cellulases and xylanases—the key enzymes in plant cell wall degradation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13353-015-0326-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Species of the ascomycete genus Trichoderma are found in many ecosystems, but the most common and natural habitat of these fungi is known to be soil (Druzhinina et al 2011)
One hundred and four Trichoderma isolates obtained from samples of decaying wood collected in the forests of the Tatra Mountains, Gorce Mountains and Karkonosze Mountains in Poland were identified at the species level based on morphological as well as ITS1, ITS2 and tef1 sequencing data
The tef1 sequences analysis of the isolates belonging to the T. harzianum species complex and T. viridescens species complex revealed five isolates as Trichoderma atrobrunneum F.B

Summary

Introduction

Species of the ascomycete genus Trichoderma (teleomorph Hypocrea) are found in many ecosystems, but the most common and natural habitat of these fungi is known to be soil (Druzhinina et al 2011). Recent studies based on hight-throughput sequencing (Buee et al 2009; Lim et al 2010) and metagenomic analysis (Friedl and Druzhinina 2012; Hagn et al 2007; Meincke et al 2010) have revealed that soil is colonized by only a relatively small portion of Hypocrea/Trichoderma species, notably Trichoderma asperellum Samuels, Lieckf. Suárez & H.C. Evans, Trichoderma spirale Bissett and Trichoderma koningii Oudem., which are known to generally have outstandingly high opportunistic potential. Trichoderma spirale Bissett and Trichoderma koningii Oudem., which are known to generally have outstandingly high opportunistic potential

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