Truffles: Biodiversity, Ecological Significances, and Biotechnological Applications

Leonardi, Marco; Iotti, Mirco; Pacioni, Giovanni; Hall, Ian R; Zambonelli, Alessandra

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-67561-5_4

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 189 publications

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“…Tuber maculatum is common in alluvial soils, whereas T. borchii is more frequent in sandy soils of littoral or Apennine woods [47]. The natural diffusion of T. maculatum was also shown in a recent study where the mycelia of T. maculatum were found to coexist with those of T. magnatum in more than 70% of the analyzed soil samples [43]. As with T. magnatum, T. maculatum seems to prefer older woods with a close canopy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

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Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community and Ascoma Production in a Declining Tuber borchii Plantation

Ori

Leonardi

Puliga

et al. 2023

JoF

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Tuber borchii is an edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom of considerable economic value. Its cultivation has become popular in recent years, but there are few studies on the factors affecting its productivity. In this work, the ascoma production and the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) community of a T. borchii plantation, established in an intensive farming area where this truffle is not naturally present, were studied. Tuber borchii production drastically declined from 2016 to 2021, and ascomata of other Tuber species (T. maculatum and T. rufum) were found from 2017. Molecular characterization of ectomycorrhizae carried out in 2016 identified 21 ECM fungal species, of which T. maculatum (22%) and Tomentella coerulea (19%) were the most abundant. Tuber borchii ectomycorrizae (16%) were almost entirely confined to the fruiting points. The diversity and structure of the ECM community on Pinus pinea were significantly different from those observed on hardwood trees. The obtained results suggest that T. maculatum (a native of the study site) tends to replace T. borchii through a mechanism of competitive exclusion. Although T. borchii cultivation is possible in suboptimal environments, particular care should be taken to limit competition with ECM fungi more suitable for local conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Among the ECM genera commonly found in the truffle areas [ 43 ], Tomentella , Inocybe , Scleroderma, and Tuber accounted for more than 70% of the OTUs of the studied ECM community, while Sebacina spp. were absent, and the diversity of Pezizalean ECM fungi was unexpectedly low.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community and Ascoma Production in a Declining Tuber borchii Plantation

Ori

Leonardi

Puliga

et al. 2023

JoF

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“…Notably, the essential oils of many MAPs contain volatile compounds with strong antifungal activity, especially against Ascomycetes [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Although this effect has not yet been tested on Tuber mycelium in the field, in vitro experiments have shown that these compounds inhibit its growth [ 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aromatic Plants and Their Associated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Outcompete Tuber melanosporum in Compatibility Assays with Truffle-Oaks

Barou¹,

Rincón

Calvet³

et al. 2023

Biology

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The high value of black truffle recompenses the slow growth of the fungus when established in the field. Adding a secondary crop, such as medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), could further enhance the sustainability of truffle production agro-forest systems. The dual cultures of ectomycorrhizal truffle-oak seedlings and MAPs (lavender, thyme, and sage) previously inoculated and non-inoculated with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), were established to evaluate plant–fungi relationships. After 12 months in a shadehouse, plants’ growth, mycorrhizal colonization, and extraradical soil mycelium (both of Tuber melanosporum and AMF) were measured. Overall, truffle-oaks’ growth was negatively affected by the presence of MAPs, especially when inoculated with AMF. In turn, the presence of truffle-oaks barely affected the co-cultured MAPs, and only lavenders showed a significant growth reduction. All AMF-inoculated MAPs showed higher shoot and root biomass than non-inoculated ones. Compared to truffle-oaks growing alone, the presence of co-cultured MAPs, especially when they were AMF-inoculated, significantly decreased both the ectomycorrhizas and soil mycelium of T. melanosporum. These results reveal the strong competition between AMF and T. melanosporum and warn about the need for the protection of intercropping plants and their associated symbiotic fungi to avoid reciprocal counterproductive effects in mixed truffle-oak–AMF–MAP plantations.

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“…Truffles belong to the group of hypogean (underground) ascomycetes. This order includes approximately 80-220 species characterized by underground fruiting bodies, usually truffles (Leonardi et al 2021a). The fruiting bodies of truffles have a round or tuber-like shape, and their texture can be fleshy or cartilaginous.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Report on Truffle-Inhabiting Fungi and Metagenomic Communities of Tuber Aestivum Collected in Russia

Malygina,

Imidoeva,

Morgunova

et al. 2024

J Exp Bio & Ag Sci

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Truffles are one of the least studied groups of fungi in terms of their biological and biotechnological aspects. This study aimed to isolate truffle-inhabiting fungi and assess the metagenomic communities of the most common Russian summer truffle, Tuber aestivum. This study is the first to characterize the biodiversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms living in the truffle T. aestivum using molecular analysis and sequencing. Plant pathogens involved in a symbiotic relationship with truffles were identified by sequencing the hypervariable fragments of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes. In addition, some strains of fungal symbionts and likely pathogens were isolated and recognized for the first time from the truffles. This study also compared and characterized the general diversity and distribution of microbial taxa of T. aestivum collected in Russia and Europe. The results revealed that the Russian and European truffle study materials demonstrated high similarity. In addition to the truffles, representatives of bacteria, fungi, and protists were found in the fruiting bodies. Many of these prokaryotic and eukaryotic species inhabiting truffles might influence them, help them form mycorrhizae with trees, and regulate biological processes. Thus, truffles are interesting and promising sources for modern biotechnological and agricultural studies.

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Truffles: Biodiversity, Ecological Significances, and Biotechnological Applications

Cited by 9 publications

References 189 publications

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community and Ascoma Production in a Declining Tuber borchii Plantation

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community and Ascoma Production in a Declining Tuber borchii Plantation

Aromatic Plants and Their Associated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Outcompete Tuber melanosporum in Compatibility Assays with Truffle-Oaks

First Report on Truffle-Inhabiting Fungi and Metagenomic Communities of Tuber Aestivum Collected in Russia

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