Trichoderma koningii: neotypification and Hypocrea teleomorph

A neotype is selected for Trichoderma koningii. The species is characterize d by morphological and molecular characters, the latter including polymeras e chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting and restriction fragment length polym orphism (RFLP) analysis and direct sequencing of the variable regions of th e rDNA (internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) and internal transcribed spac er (ITS-2)). The neotype was selected from among four cultures obtained fro m soil at the type locality. These cultures were compared with a broader co llection of Trichoderma strains and anamorphs of Hypocrea that morphologica lly conform to T: koningii. Comparison was also made with members of Tricho derma sect. Trichoderma and of the Hypocrea schweinitzii complex (Trichoder ma sect. Longibrachiatum). According to its ITS sequences, T. koningii is a member of sect. Trichoderma, showing very low variability in comparison wi th Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma atroviride. We found five additional strains from various geographical regions that are identical to the neotype in morphology and in their sequences. One of them is Hypocrea koningii sp. nov., which we consider to be the teleomorph of I: koningii. PCR fingerprin t patterns demonstrate the high genetic similarity of these nine strains. T here was only low similarity in molecular characters between 1: koningii an d the H. schweinitzii complex despite morphological similarities.