Trichoderma changiae (Hypocreales), a new species isolated from a native orchid in Taiwan

Abstract

The orchid family is a natural resource pool, harboring numerous yet undiscovered species of endophytic fungi. However, few studies have investigated these endophytic fungi within Taiwan’s native orchids. In this study, two Trichoderma strains isolated from the roots of the native Taiwanese orchid, Dendrobium nakaharae, were identified as a new species, Trichoderma changiae. The phylogenetic analyses using three gene loci (ITS, tef1, and rpb2) revealed that the new species possesses distinctive sequences at these loci, clearly differentiating it from other species. Additionally, the analyses showed that T. changiae belongs to the Viride clade and is closely related to T. viride. The morphological and cultural characteristics of these isolates were observed, described, and illustrated in detail. Furthermore, the distinctions between this new species and its close relatives were compared, and the findings are presented herein.