Trichoderma azadirachtae Q.R. Huang, Z.Y. Dong & M. Luo, 2024

Huang, Qiu-Rong, Senanayake, Indunil C., Liu, Jia-Wei, Chen, Wen-Jing, Dong, Zhang-Yong & Luo, Mei, 2024, Trichoderma azadirachtae sp. nov. from rhizosphere soil of Azadirachta indica from Guangdong Province, China, Phytotaxa 670 (3), pp. 148-160 : 156-157

Trichoderma azadirachtae Q.R. Huang, Z.Y. Dong & M. Luo , sp. nov. ( FIGURE 3 )

Index Fungorum number: IF901919

Etymology: Species epithet refers to the rhizosphere of host plant, Azadirachta indica .

Holotype: MHZU 24-0015

Material examined: CHINA. Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing City, Weizhi Town, 23°64’75”N, 112°73’13”E, ca. 64 m elev., isolated from rhizosphere soil of Azadirachta indica , February 17, 2023, W. J. Chen, dried culture ( MHZU 24- 0015, holotype), and ex-type culture ( ZHKUCC 24-0201= CGMCC 3.27235), other living cultures ZHKUCC 24-0202 to ZHKUCC 24-0203.

Description: Sexual morph: not observed. Asexual morph: Mycelia white to transparent, branched, and separated. Conidiophores pyramidal with opposing branches, single, straight or curved, with obvious spindles, branches 2–2.5 wide, Phialides, sometimes solitary, often paired or in whorls. Phialides ampulliform to lageniform, often constricted below the tip to form a narrow neck, hyaline 5.51–9.45 × 2.88–4.87 µm (SD = 7.46 ± 0.97 × 3.68 ± 0.44 μm, n = 50), length/width ratio 1.44–3.15 (SD = 2.06 ± 0.35 μm, n = 50), base 1.81–2.52 μm (SD = 2.16 ± 0.22 μm, n = 30). Conidia ovoid to subglobose, smooth, hyaline when young, becoming green to dark green with age, 2.84–3.44 × 2.58–3.11 µm (SD = 3.12 ± 0.13 × 2.81 ± 0.13 μm, n = 50), length/width ratio 0.99–1.24 (SD = 1.11 ± 0.06 μm, n = 50). Chlamydospores 4.52–7.72 × 4.29–7.73 µm (SD = 6.38 ± 0.76 × 5.92 ± 0.84 μm, n = 50), subglobose to globose, smooth-walled, hyaline.

Culture characteristics: On PDA after 72 h, colony radius 60–61 mm at 25°C, and the petri dish was covered on the 4 th day. The colony was annular striated, Conidial production noted after 3 days, starting around the original inoculum, effuse in the aerial hyphae, first white, turning blue-green after 7 d, and the distribution was convex, forming a reduced round dark green lawn. The white mycelia were radiative, the air mycelia were dense, the colony edge was obviously distributed in bands, and there was no autolysis. No obvious odour and secretion.

On SNA after 72 h, colony radius 58–59 mm at 25°C. The colonies are transparent, obvious, and long-sized, and the grid distribution. Aerial hyphae short. No diffusing pigment, not distinct odour. Conidial production noted after 2 d, starting around the inoculum, effuse in the aerial hyphae. Small pustules formed around the inoculum, first white, turning green after 3 d.

On CMD after 72 h, colony radius 72–73 mm at 25°C. Colony are white in the inside of the colonies, and there are more green pustules in the outer layer, sparsely distributed, ring-shaped. No diffusing pigment, not distinct odour. Conidial production noted after 3 d, effuse in aerial hyphae, becoming green after 4 d.

On MEA after 72 h, colony radius 54–56 mm at 25°C. Colony Green to white; mycelium dense and textures. Aerial conspicuous. No diffusing pigment, not distinct odour. Conidial production noted after 3 d, effuse in aerial hyphae, becoming green after 4 d.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Trichoderma azadirachtae (ZHKUCC 24-0201, holotype) A–D Surface view of cultures on different media (A on PDA B on MEA C on CMD D on SNA) E conidiation pustules on SNA after 7 d F chlamydospores G–K conidiophores and phialides (G, H on PDA 3 d I–K on CMD 3 d) L–N conidia. Scale bars: 10 μm (F–N).