Trichoderma aureoviride: phylogenetic position and characterization

The identity of strains identified as Trichoderma aureoviride/Hypocrea aure oviridis was reconsidered. Trichoderma aureoviride was isolated originally from a specimen identified as H. aureoviridis and thus is H. aureoviridis. The morphological and molecular characters of most strains identified as T. aureoviride differ from those of the ex-type but are more typical of T; ha rzianum, a member of sect. Pachybasium. Molecular data do not support inclu sion of T. aureoviride in sect. Trichoderma, nor was there strong phenotypi c similarity between H. aureoviridis and H. rufa. In the ITS phylogeny the T. aureoviride ex-type and other collections of H. aureoviridis form a stro ngly supported clade that is separate from any other recognized section of Trichoderma. Hypocrea vinosa, which was originally included in the T. aureo viride aggregate species concept. is distinct from T. aureoviride, but clos ely allied with H. rufa/T. viride. Trichoderma aureoviride/H. aureoviridis is a rare species, restricted to the UK and the Netherlands. We redefine T. aureoviride limiting it to strains with very slow growth rate, effuse coni diation, and the ITS-1 and 2 sequence type D.