Morphological and cultural characteristics of Trichoderma spp. associated with green mold of oyster mushroom in Korea

Abstract

A total of 179 isolates of Trichoderma spp. were collected from oyster mushroom substrates in Korea. On the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics, Trichoderma isolates were divided into seven groups, namely T. atroviride, T. citrinoviride, T. harzianum, T. longibrachiatum, T. virens, and two unidentified species, referred to as Trichoderma sp. 1 and 2. The predominant species was Trichoderma sp. 2 (n=86) followed by Trichoderma sp. 1 (n=52). Trichoderma sp. 1 and 2 were morphologically distinct not only from the other species of Trichoderma reported but also from each other in the characteristics such as mycelial growth rate, colony appearance, shape of conidia and conidiophores and branching pattern of phialides, although branching pattern of phialides of Trichoderma sp. 1 was similar to that of T. harzianum. In virulence test, the degree for compost colonization of Trichoderma sp. 2 was significantly greater than that of the other Trichoderma species. Trichoderma sp. 2 was found to be the main cause of green mold disease in oyster mushroom production. More work including molecular characterization is needed to confirm the species of Trichoderma sp. 1 and 2. © The Korean Society of Plant Pathology.