Abstract
Trichoderma species are widely distributed soil fungi known for their biocontrol potential and plant growth-promoting properties. However, the diversity of Trichoderma in island ecosystems, such as the Canary Islands, remains underexplored. In this study, we describe Trichoderma ichasaguae sp. nov., a novel species isolated from banana rhizosphere soils in southwestern Tenerife (the island with the largest cultivated area in the Canary archipelago). The species was identified through multilocus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, tef1-α, rpb2) and detailed morphological characterization. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Trichoderma ichasaguae forms a distinct lineage within the Harzianum section, closely related to T. hortense, T. rugulosum, and T. orarium, but with clear genetic and morphological differentiation. The description of Trichoderma ichasaguae expands our understanding of fungal biodiversity in the Canary Islands and underscores the need for further taxonomic studies in these insular ecosystems.