Draft genome sequences and annotation of Trichoderma lixii and Trichoderma capillare isolated from PAH-contaminated soil and industrial wastewaters

Several Trichoderma species (Hypocreaceae) can synthesize molecules of high biotechnological value, including antifungal compounds and Carbohydrate-Active enzymes (CAZymes). Moreover, some Trichoderma species have the ability to tolerate toxic compounds and could be used in mycoremediation. Trichoderma lixii MUT3171 and Trichoderma capillare MUT5453, both deposited at the Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis (MUT) of the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin (Italy), were isolated from a soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and from a industrial wastewater, respectively. To evaluate their mycoremediation potential, we sequenced the genomes of both fungi, and performed preliminary explorations of their gene reservoirs. T. lixii (40.94 Mbp) and T. capillare (39.24 Mbp) encode for 11,920 and 11,491 genes, respectively. We predicted a high number of secreted proteins (858 and 849), with a considerable amount of small-secreted effectors. The other portion of the secretome consisted in a rich arsenal composed of ferroxidases, monoxygenases, CAZymes, lipases and proteases. In addition, both fungi produce biosurfactants such as hydrophobins. While evaluating the potential drawbacks of employing these fungi in mycoremediation, we found that they may synthesize the mycotoxins citrinin, alternariol and leucinostatin, but further confirmation is required. As an added value to their biotechnological potential, both fungi may be able to produce compounds of pharmaceutical interest such as antibiotics and antitumor molecules. Finally, through a genome-scale phylogeny, we show that T. lixii and T. capillare diverged from their closest sequenced relative, T. harzianum, around 4 MYA, and investigate the trajectory of their gene family evolution, which probably resulted in their adaptation to polluted environments.