Identification of aggressive species of Trichoderma from button mushroom farms (Agaricus bisporus) using morphological and molecular methods

Abstract

Different species of <em>Trichoderma</em> especially <em>T. harzianum</em> (Th2 biotype in Europe and Th4 in America) considered as causal agent of green mould disease on button mushroom (<em>Agaricus bisporus</em>) casing beds. In this study, 100 fungal isolates were collected and purified from different mushroom growing units in Tehran province and Urmia (NW Iran). Totally, 60 isolates of <em>T. harzianum</em>, 27 isolates of <em>T. virens</em>, seven isolates of <em>T. hamatum</em> and six isolates of <em>T. inhamatum</em> were morphologically identified. The main infectious agent was <em>T. harzianum</em>. Specific primers were used for identification of different biotypes.