**5. Conclusions**

*Trichoderma* species represent a major component of soil biodiversity with an important role in maintaining soil and plant health. The numbers, diversity, roles, and interactions of *Trichoderma* species in the environment are only now being discovered as tools are developed to distinguish the anamorph forms most commonly encountered. Significant and novel biodiversity of *Trichoderma* in the neotropics has been demonstrated, although we have only begun to explore the diversity of regions, habitats and substrates that exist in the region. We are now able to account taxonomically for a significant component of their biological diversity, to begin to predict biological activities, and to communicate results through the use of accurately determined names. The identification of *Trichoderma* species, as for species in other economically important and species-rich genera, is increasingly reliant on molecular data as the limits of phenotypic characters to distinguish species are reached. Many new species of *Trichoderma* will undoubtedly be distinguished as molecular tools are developed for ecological and metagenomic studies. Agriculture is the main economic

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activity in neotropical regions, and *Trichoderma* is the most important biocontrol agent against soil-borne phytopathogens. Consequently neotropical investigations have concentrated on the application of *Trichoderma* to control crop diseases, and discovering new metabolites and mechanisms of action. We can now appreciate the importance in preserving the biodiversity of delicate ecosystems such as rain forest and Andean forest, as reservoirs of metabolites and diverse and unique ecological niches for habitation by animals, plants and microorganisms. Conservation is facilitated as we increase our knowledge of the fundamental role of *Trichoderma* in nutrient cycling and in the complex interactions within the soil biota.
