Development of a Rapid Molecular Detection System for Green Mold Disease of Ganoderma lingzhi Caused by Trichoderma...

Green mold disease caused by Trichoderma species represents one of the most serious threats to the cultivation of Ganoderma lingzhi. In this study, a rapid molecular detection system was developed for the identification of green mold caused by Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The pathogen was first identified based on morphological characteristics and pathogenicity tests. Species-specific primers were then designed targeting the RPB2 gene region, and their specificity and sensitivity were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results confirmed that the causal pathogen was T. longibrachiatum. The designed primers exhibited high specificity and produced amplification only with genomic DNA from the target strain. Sensitivity assays demonstrated that the minimum detectable DNA concentration was 10^-2 ng/µL. In soil inoculation experiments, the target DNA could be detected in soil containing 4.28 × 10⁶ spores/g using the developed primers. Compared with conventional culture-based detection methods, the molecular detection system established in this study is faster, more accurate, and highly sensitive. This method provides a practical diagnostic tool for the early detection and management of green mold disease in G. lingzhi cultivation.