Ectomycorrhizal communities in a Tuber aestivum Vittad. orchard in Poland

Abstract

Cultivation of the Burgundy truffle, Tuber aestivum Vittad., has become a new agricultural alternative in Poland. For rural economies, the concept of landscaping is often considerably more beneficial than conventional agriculture and promotes reforestation, as well as land-use stability. Considering examples from France, Italy, Hungary and Spain, truffle cultivation stimulates economic and social development of small, rural communities. Because there is no long tradition of truffle orchards in Poland, knowledge regarding the environmental factors regulating the formation of fruiting bodies of T. aestivum is limited. Thus, knowledge concerning ectomycorrhizal communities of T. aestivum host species is crucial to ensuring successful Burgundy truffle production. We investigated the persistence of T. aestivum ectomycorrhizae on roots of hazel (Corylus avellana L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) and checked the host-species influence on community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The study was conducted in an experimental plantation located in eastern Poland and established in 2008. We demonstrated that the number of fungal taxa was not significantly different between oak and hazel. However, the species composition differed between these two host trees. During the three-year study, we observed that species richness did not increase with the age of the plantation.

Truffle renaissance in Poland – history, present and prospects

“…In the last decade, the first Polish truffle orchards with seedlings inoculated from a native inoculum have been established, and in the oldest one, which was established in 2008, fruit bodies of T. aestivum occurred last autumn. The dates of the research done in the last decade were published by Hilszczańska and co-workers [ 97 – 102 ].…”

“… 2016 Byk et al [ 88 ] + 14. 2016 Hilszczańska et al [ 102 ] + + + 15. 2016 Hilszczańska [ 126 ] + + + + + + 16.…”

“…We have obtained fruit bodies of T. aestivum after 8 years in truffle orchards established in eastern Poland [102]. Two other orchards are cared for by the Forest Research Institute, and new orchards are established every year by individual entrepreneurs.…”

A Survey of the Knowledge of Truffles among Polish Foresters and Implications for Environmental Education

“…Since then, efforts have been made to disseminate knowledge about truffles (Tuber spp.) by publications, a movie, and book [11,12,14,15,[21][22][23][24][25][26], and popular programs. The first Polish truffle orchards were established using seedlings inoculated from native inoculum.…”

“…Since truffle orchards may become a new core of sustainable, high-diversity biotops worth protecting, the topic should be propagated, especially by foresters dealing with education who can based on results of the work cited below. The results of our truffle research are disseminated through publications [11,12,14], monographs [15], and in the film "Truffles in Poland," produced by M. Ogrodowczyk (https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGVQEkaWRjs). Given that environmental education is provided by foresters, we are of the opinion the subject of truffles should be part of the forestry education curriculum.…”