The diversity of <i>Trichoderma</i> species from soil in South Africa, with five new additions

Fourteen <i>Trichoderma</i> (Hypocreales) species were identified during a survey of the genus in South Africa. These include <i>T. afroharzianum, T. asperelloides, T. asperellum, T. atrobrunneum, T. atroviride, T. camerunense, T. gamsii, T. hamatum, T. koningii, T. koningiopsis, T. saturnisporum, T. spirale, T. virens</i>, and <i>T. viride</i>. Ten of these species were not known to occur in South Africa prior to this investigation. Five additional species were novel and are described here as <i>T. beinartii, T. caeruleimontis, T. chetii, T. restrictum</i>, and <i>T. undulatum</i>. These novel <i>Trichoderma</i> species display morphological traits that are typical of the genus. Based on molecular identification using calmodulin, endochitinase, nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), RNA polymerase II subunit B, and translation elongation factor 1-α gene sequence data, <i>T. beinartii, T. caeruleimontis</i>, and <i>T. chetii</i> were found to belong to the <i>Longibrachiatum</i> clade, whereas <i>T. restrictum</i> is a member of the <i>Hamatum</i> clade. <i>Trichoderma undulatum</i> occupies a distinct lineage distantly related to other <i>Trichoderma</i> species. Strains of <i>T. beinartii</i> and <i>T. chetii</i> were isolated previously in Hawaii and Israel; however, <i>T. caeruleimontis, T. restrictum</i>, and <i>T. undulatum</i> are so far known only from South Africa.