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Identification patterns of Trichoderma strains using morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analyses and lignocellulolytic activities

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Abstract

Trichoderma is a genus of soil-borne fungus with an abundance of reports of its economic importance in the agriculture industry. Thus, the correct identification of Trichoderma species is necessary for its commercial purposes. Globally, Trichoderma species are routinely identified from micro-morphological descriptions which can be tedious and prone to errors. Thus, we emphasize that the accurate identification of Trichoderma strains requires a three-pronged approach i.e. based on its morphological characteristics, multilocus gene sequences of the rDNA [internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 regions], translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α), Calmodulin (CAL) and its lignocellulolytic activities. We used this approach to identify a total of 53 Trichoderma strains which were isolated from a wet paddy field located at Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia. The 53 strains were positively identified as belonging to three Trichoderma species, namely T. asperellum (43 strains), T. harzianum (9 strains), and T. reesei (one strain) on the basis of its morphological characteristics and multilocus gene sequences. Phylogenetic trees constructed based on the UPGMA method of the ITS 1 and 2 regions of the rDNA, TEF-1α and CAL revealed three distinct groups with the T. asperellum, T. harzianum and T. reesei strains placed under the section of Trichoderma, Pachybasium and Longibrachiatum, respectively. In addition, the lignocellulolytic activities of the isolates were measured based on the diameters of the halo zones produced when degrading cellulose, lignin, and starch, respectively. This diagnostic assay can be used to identify Trichoderma as it produces polyphenol oxidase when Tannic Acid Media is used for the lignin test, endoglucanases when Jensen media is used for cellulose, and it hydrolyzes starch to glucose when the modified Melin–Nokrans media is used for the starch test. Accurate identification of Trichoderma species is needed as these strains can potentially be used as a biocontrol agent to prevent diseases and to increase yield in agriculture crops.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Universiti Malaysia Sabah for providing financial support under the UMS Great Grant Scheme (GUG0276-2/2018).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jln UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

    Azriah Asis, Suryani Saallah, Vijay Kumar & Shafiquzzaman Siddiquee

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia

    Saleh Ahmed Shahriar

  3. Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Pengkalan Chepa, Jeli Campus, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

    Laila Naher

  4. Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Hasan Nudin Nur Fatihah

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  1. Azriah Asis
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Contributions

Conceptualisation, AA, SuS, SS, and KV; investigation, SAS, NFHN; resources, AA; writing—original draft preparation, AA; writing—review and editing, SuS, SS, NFHN and KV; supervision, SS, and KV. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shafiquzzaman Siddiquee.

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Asis, A., Shahriar, S.A., Naher, L. et al. Identification patterns of Trichoderma strains using morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analyses and lignocellulolytic activities. Mol Biol Rep 48, 3285–3301 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06321-0

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