<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The first reports concerning green mold on Polish mushroom farms are from 2002. In Europe and the United States <italic>Trichoderma harzianum</italic> was initially described as a causative agent of the disease. However, soon two biotypes of <italic>Trichoderma</italic>, Th2 in Europe and Th4 in America, were recognised as responsible for commercial losses and were designated as a new species named <italic>T. aggressivum.</italic> Until now it has not been clear which species of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> and which form of the species was a causative agent of the disease outbreak in Poland and what was the main source of infection. Therefore, studies were conducted on the composition of the <italic>Trichoderma</italic> species in Polish mushroom farms and in compost samples. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and microscopic studies. The classification of the strains recognised as <italic>T. aggressivum</italic> was then confirmed by PCR methods. The aggressiveness of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp., especially <italic>T. aggressivum</italic>, was estimated in <italic>in vitro</italic> studies. The most frequently isolated <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. were: <italic>T. harzianum, T. aggressivum, T. atroviride</italic> and <italic>T. longibrachiatum.</italic> Using the technique of PCR, multiplex PCR and PCR-RAPD it was determined that 24 isolates from Polish mushroom farms belonged to <italic>T. aggressivum</italic> f. <italic>europeanum</italic> (Th2). However, a large variation between isolates indicated the possibility that Polish biotypes of <italic>T. aggressivum</italic> were different from those, which were found in western Europe. All isolates of <italic>T. aggressivum</italic> were highly pathogenic towards <italic>Agaricus bisporus.</italic></p></abstract>

The first reports concerning green mold on Polish mushroom farms are from 2002. In Europe and the United States Trichoderma harzianum was initially described as a causative agent of the disease. However, soon two biotypes of Trichoderma, Th2 in Europe and Th4 in America, were recognised as responsible for commercial losses and were designated as a new species named T. aggressivum. Until now it has not been clear which species of Trichoderma and which form of the species was a causative agent of the disease outbreak in Poland and what was the main source of infection. Therefore, studies were conducted on the composition of the Trichoderma species in Polish mushroom farms and in compost samples. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and microscopic studies. The classification of the strains recognised as T. aggressivum was then confirmed by PCR methods. The aggressiveness of Trichoderma spp., especially T. aggressivum, was estimated in in vitro studies. The most frequently isolated Trichoderma spp. were: T. harzianum, T. aggressivum, T. atroviride and T. longibrachiatum. Using the technique of PCR, multiplex PCR and PCR-RAPD it was determined that 24 isolates from Polish mushroom farms belonged to T. aggressivum f. europeanum (Th2). However, a large variation between isolates indicated the possibility that Polish biotypes of T. aggressivum were different from those, which were found in western Europe. All isolates of T. aggressivum were highly pathogenic towards Agaricus bisporus.

<italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. - The Cause of Green Mold on Polish Mushroom Farms

Department of Plant Protection, Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, Skierniewice, Poland

Department of Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, Skierniewice, Poland

Department of Crop Science and Nutrition, Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, Skierniewice, Poland

Journal of Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research

 spp. - The Cause of Green Mold on Polish Mushroom Farms

The first reports concerning green mold on Polish mushroom farms are from 2002. In Europe and the United States Trichoderma harzianum was initially described...

Trichoderma spp. - The Cause of Green Mold on Polish Mushroom Farms

Published Online: Jan 05, 2009

Page range: 105 - 114

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10032-008-0025-0

Keywords
, PCR identification, epidemiology

This content is open access.