Trichoderma fertile CBS 339.93 was sequenced as a part of the CSP2018 Project 503464 "Genus-wide genomics of the biomass-degrading and plant-beneficial Trichoderma."
Fungi from the genus Trichoderma (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) exhibit remarkable ecophysiological and nutritional versatility, forming biotrophic interactions not only with a diversity of fungi, but also with animals and plants. Moreover, most species are saprotrophs and can efficiently degrade lignocellulose and establish in soil. These properties illustrate how broadly impactful Trichoderma are on humankind. T. reesei is well established as an industrial producer of cellulolytic enzymes for the biofuel and biorefinery industries. Many species are used as bioeffectors in biofungicides and biofertilizers in agriculture. Interestingly, the same species are often causal agents of green mold disease on mushroom farms. Furthermore, several Trichoderma can cause mycoses in immunocompromised humans.
This project aims to further understanding of biological, evolutionary, and biochemical mechanisms underlying the vast environmental opportunism of some Trichoderma species, and to explain the narrow ecophysiological specialization of the others. The genus-wide genomic project is essential to facilitate the introduction of new Trichoderma species into industrial processes, as well as enable the development of environmentally safe and efficient agricultural applications based on these fungi and their products.