Intraspecific molecular variation among Trichoderma harzianum isolates colonizing mushroom compost in the British Isles.

The genetic diversity in Trichoderma harzianum isolates from mushroom compost was assessed using various molecular techniques. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) divided the 81 isolates into three major groups, 1, 2 and 3. There was no variation within a group in rDNA, while a low degree of polymorphism was detected in mtDNA. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of 30 randomly chosen isolates, with six primers, in general confirmed the RFLP groups. Nucleotide sequence determination of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 revealed three distinct ITS types, 1, 2 and 3, possessed by isolates from the respective groups 1, 2 and 3. Based on these molecular data, group 2 isolates, which are aggressive colonizers of mushroom compost, could be clearly distinguished from the isolates belonging to the other two groups.