[2] Although it mainly uses nitrogen,[11][12] other nutrient sources have been tested to determine that U. botrytis growth rate is dependent on the type of media provided.
[13][12] Ulocladium botrytis colonies are commonly velvety in texture and grow in an assortment of colors ranging from dark blackish brown to black.
[3] The hyphae are 3-4 μm in diameter and yellow to golden brown in colour with a smooth or slightly rough texture.
[1] Although it is an asexual fungus, U. botrytis possesses the mating type locus, which consists of two dissimilar DNA sequences termed MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1.
[12] Additionally, a new tyrosine kinase (p56tck) inhibitor called ulocladol, with the molecular formula C16H14O7, was found in ethyl acetate extract from U.
[17][6] The distribution of Ulocladium botrytis is fairly broad, wherein it has been found worldwide in areas of Europe, North America, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Kuwait.
[3] It is often isolated from soil,[3] where it is a common contaminant;[5] however, U. botrytis also grows on rotten wood, paper, and other textiles or on dead herbaceous plants.
[2] This fungus has been found growing on deciduous alder trees (Alnus) which belong to the birch family Betulaceae.
Ulocladium botrytis is capable of surviving in xerophilic ecosystems and alkaline-calcareous soils, both extreme habitats, when associating with the tree species Scutia buxifolia.
botrytis has potential, albeit limited, to be used as a biocontrol agent against the parasitic herbaceous plant genus Orobanche that affect the yield of certain crops like tomatoes.
[19] Ulocladium botrytis is also capable of in vitro antagonism of root-disease pathogens such as Heterobasidion annosum, Phellinus weirii, and Armillaria ostoyae.
[6] In addition, U. botrytis also releases another allergen, homologous to Alt a 1, that possesses the capacity to cause allergic responses in humans.
[23] Importantly, Ulocladium botrytis is rarely pathogenic to humans but has been found to be associated with cases of onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail.