Trichoderma is the anamorph (asexual stage) of the genus hypocrea. Trichoderma species are filamentous fungi that can be found all over the world in the soil, in plants, in rotting plant residues and in wood. They are extremely important in the rhizosphere (the area surrounding a root) and interact with the plant, other microorganisms and the soil.
Since they are in competition with other microorganisms, they have recently been used more and more as antagonists to phytopathogenic fungi. Hypocrea spp. forms the main fruit and is mainly found in wood. Most trichoderma strains only form the anamorphs.