T. viride is a mold which produces spores asexually, by mitosis. It is the
anamorph of
Hypocrea rufa, its
teleomorph, which is the sexual reproductive stage of the fungus and produces a typical fungal fruiting body. The mycelium of
T. viride can produce a variety of enzymes, including
cellulases and
chitinases which can degrade cellulose and chitin respectively. The mould can grow directly on wood, which is mostly composed of cellulose, and on fungi, the cell walls of which are mainly composed of
chitin. It parasitizes the
mycelia and fruiting bodies of other fungi, including cultivated
mushrooms, and it has been called the "green mould disease of mushrooms". The affected mushrooms are distorted and unattractive in appearance and the crop is reduced. Trichoderma viride is the causal agent of green mold rot of onion. A strain of Trichoderma viride is a known cause of dieback of Pinus nigra seedlings. In rare cases it can infect immunocompromised humans, and is associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, blood cancers, or solid organ transplant. ==Uses==