ArticlePDF Available

Abstract and Figures

Aim of study: In recent decades the cultivation of the black truffle Tuber melanosporum has expanded across all the Mediterranean-climate regions, but also to other regions outside the European standard for the species. We aim to describe the current extent of T. melanosporum cultivation. Area of study: Tuber melanosporum plantations in Europe, the Mediterranean basin, Australia, New Zealand, China, America and South Africa. Material and Methods: The socioeconomic impact of T. melanosporum cultivation, the way in which the current situation has been achieved and the knowledge needed for its progress are reviewed. Research highlights: T. melanosporum has been successfully cultivated in several countries outside its natural area, but many practices are still empirical and thus yields cannot be guaranteed. The recent advances in molecular techniques and genome science are helping to overcome some of the difficulties traditionally constraining truffle research. The role of truffles as a transitional element between agricultural and forestry activities makes its cultivation a paradigm of sustainable rural development.
Content may be subject to copyright.
Introduction
Wild edible fungi have traditionally been used as
food or medicine worldwide (Boa, 2004). Some of
them —mostly saprotrophic— are cultivated (e.g. Aga-
ricus bisporus), while many others are exclusively
harvested in forests. Truffles are one of the few cultiva-
ted mycorrhizal fungi: they make part of the rural
European culture, and nowadays they are widely used
in international haute cuisine.
The term “truffle” is sometimes used to name all
hypogeous mushrooms in general, but it specifically
refers to the genus Tuber. Bonito et al. (2010) report
at least 180 species of Tuber around the world, although
only about 13 have commercial interest (Bonito et al.,
2009). The quintessential truffles are the European
black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) and the
Italian white truffle (Tuber magnatum Pico).
T. melanosporum was first cultivated in France
during the 19
th
century (Olivier et al., 1996) and it is
currently cultivated worldwide (mainly in regions with
Mediterranean-like climate). Despite research efforts
cultivation is not completely domesticated. More re-
cently, other Tuber species have also been successfully
cultivated, such as Tuber aestivum Vittad. and its form
uncinatum, Tuber borchii Vittad. and the Tuber in-
dicum complex (Wang et al., 2006) (Chevalier and Fro-
chot, 1997; Zambonelli et al., 2000; Hu et al., 2005),
whereas the attempts to grow the native North Ameri-
can Tuber species are in their first stages (Lefevre,
2012). Much effort has been devoted to T. magnatum,
although without success (Gregori, 2007; Bencivenga
et al., 2009).
This review focuses on the current extent of T. mela-
nosporum cultivation, which is by far the most wide-
spread. We describe its potential socioeconomic impact,
the way in which the current situation has been achie-
ved and finally the knowledge needed for its progress.
Socioeconomic and environmental
values
Economic value
In France, Italy, Spain and Australia truffles are
currently a multi-million euro industry. In the first
Black truffle cultivation: a global reality
Santiago Reyna
1
* and Sergi Garcia-Barreda
1, 2
1
ETS Ingeniería Agronómica y del Medio Natural. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Cno. de Vera, s/n.
46022 Valencia, Spain.
2
Fundación Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo (CEAM).
C/ Charles Darwin, 14. Parque Tecnológico. 46980 Paterna (Valencia), Spain
Abstract
Aim of study: In recent decades the cultivation of the black truffle Tuber melanosporum has expanded across all the
Mediterranean-climate regions, but also to other regions outside the European standard for the species. We aim to
describe the current extent of T. melanosporum cultivation.
Area of study: Tuber melanosporum plantations in Europe, the Mediterranean basin, Australia, New Zealand, China,
America and South Africa.
Material and methods: The socioeconomic impact of T. melanosporum cultivation, the way in which the current
situation has been achieved and the knowledge needed for its progress are reviewed.
Research highlights: T. melanosporum has been successfully cultivated in several countries outside its natural area,
but many practices are still empirical and thus yields cannot be guaranteed. The recent advances in molecular techniques
and genome science are helping to overcome some of the difficulties traditionally constraining truffle research. The
role of truffles as a transitional element between agricultural and forestry activities makes its cultivation a paradigm
of sustainable rural development.
Key words: Tuber melanosporum; Europe; Australia; New Zealand; Chile; USA.
* Corresponding author: sreyna@agf.upv.es
Received: 23-07-13. Accepted: 12-12-13.
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) Forest Systems 2014 23(2): 317-328
Available online at www.inia.es/forestsystems ISSN: 2171-5068
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5424/fs/2014232-04771 eISSN: 2171-9845
318 S. Reyna and S. García-Barreda / Forest Systems (2014) 23(2): 317-328
three countries, truffles are harvested not only in
planted truffle orchards (cultivated truffles) but also
in natural forests (wild truffles). The value of the T.
melanosporum production is estimated to be around
20 million euro per year in France (Escafre and
Roussel, 2006), 7.5 million euro in Spain (estimated
for the past decade on the basis of the mean prices at
Vic market, in north-eastern Spain), and 4 million euro
in Australia in 2012 (Duell, 2012). In Italy the
production value of all species of Tuber together was
estimated to be 18 million euro in 1999 (Pettenella
et al., 2004).
The price that farmers receive for T. melanosporum
in Europe ranged in the past decade from less than 150
to more than 800 euros kg
–1
. The price for retail cus-
tomers can be much higher: e.g. in Paris and London
prices higher than 2000-4000 euros kg
–1
can be achie-
ved. This fact has encouraged truffle growers to sell
directly to restaurants and to use retail e-commer-
ce. In Australia the mean price in 2012 for the
higher quality class was about 950 euros kg
–1
(Duell,
2012).
The high price of T. melanosporum makes its
cultivation an interesting enterprise for farmers where-
ver suitable environmental conditions exist. A review
of economic evaluations of truffle plantation in Europe
by Bonet and Colinas (2001) showed that the internal
rate of return (i.e. the interest yield expected from the
investment) was always above 9%, although the return
time of the investment was longer than 10 years. The
GET (2002) estimated that markets would be able to
absorb around 1,000 t of T. melanosporum, which
represents more than ten times the current production.
In Spain its current discounted value has increased at
an annual rate of 3% over the past 50 years (Reyna,
2007b).
The total economic impact includes not only fresh
truffles sold by farmers, but also agritourism, local
mycological gastronomy, production of value-added
truffle products, truffle fairs and retail markets,
increase in agricultural land price in truffle-growing
regions, production of mycorrhizal seedlings in nur-
series, dog training, consumption of agricultural sup-
plies by truffle growers, technical assessment services,
etc. The total economic impact of T. melanosporum
was estimated to be around 70 million euros per year
in France (Escafre and Roussel, 2006). In Italy, the
total economic impact of all Tuber species together
was estimated to be more than 100 million euros (Gre-
gori, 2013).
Social value: rural development
In many T. melanosporum-producing regions of the
Mediterranean basin the environmental conditions and
the small size of plots limit the yield of traditional agri-
cultural crops (Pinto-Correia, 1993). Truffle cultivation
represents an alternative for their agriculture: an eco-
nomic diversification and an extra income. When non-
agricultural activities are brought into play (e.g. agri-
tourism) truffle fulfils a more robust role in rural
development. Besides, maintaining marginal agri-
cultural lands cultivated helps to preserve the tradi-
tional Mediterranean agroforestry landscapes and rural
population.
The harvesting of wild T. melanosporum also plays
a role in the rural economy of Italy and Spain. The
value that truffles add to forests is particularly inte-
resting in Mediterranean forests: given their low pro-
ductivity (Domínguez-Torres and Plana, 2002) it could
promote involvement of the rural communities in forest
protection and management.
In Italy and France truffles are a part of the rural
cultural heritage and a reason for pride. Truffle has
encouraged the development of partnerships and as-
sociations of growers, municipalities (such as the
Italian Città del Tartufo) and gourmets. Ecomuseums
such as those in Sorges (France), San Giovanni d’Asso
(Italy) and Metauten (Spain) introduce the public to
the various aspects of truffles.
Environmental value
In its natural area, T. melanosporum can be grown
with low environmental impact: the use of machinery
and chemicals is limited, so it can be easily considered
organic farming. Soil tilling of these plots increases
water infiltration rates. The maintenance of soil con-
servation structures limits soil erosion risk in steep
slopes. The use of native Quercus as host plants contri-
butes to the conservation of natural forests. In the fire-
prone Mediterranean landscapes, T. melanosporum
plantations constitute excellent firebreaks due to low
plantation densities, soil tilling and the herbicidal
effect of the fungus.
The history of truffle cultivation
Hypogeous fungi (most probably desert truffles of
the genera Terfezia and Tirmania) were consumed in
Black truffle cultivation: a global reality 319
the Antiquity by Mesopotamics, Egyptians, Greeks and
Romans. During the Middle Ages they are scarcely
cited in Europe, but in the Renaissance truffles gained
a reputation in Italy and France, and truffle consump-
tion spread among wealthy people (Reyna, 2007a).
Manna (2005) reports harvest regulations in Italy du-
ring this period. Ceccarelli wrote a monograph on the
management of wild truffières in 1564 (Granetti, 2005).
During the 18th and 19th centuries the consumption
of truffles increased thanks to gourmets such as Brillat-
Savarin. This encouraged the spreading of truffle
harvesting and the management of wild truffières. A
major advance occurred in the early 19th century when
the French farmer Joseph Talon had the idea of sowing
acorns from truffle-producing trees near or inside the
truffières. Auguste Rousseau disseminated the techni-
que and thousands of hectares of oaks were planted
thanks to this idea, boosted by the French reforestation
laws of 1860 and 1882 (Diette and Lauriac, 2005) and
the expansion of available agricultural land due to the
widespread vineyard destruction by the Phylloxera
plague (Olivier et al., 1996). This resulted in the golden
age for truffle production, with estimated productions
of 1,588 t in 1868, and 2,000 t in 1892. In Italy, Mat-
tirolo and Francolini also promoted reforestations to
increase truffle production (Granetti, 2005). In those
decades De Bosredon, Chatin and Pradel wrote mono-
graphs on truffle ecology and cultivation. During the
same period Carlo Vittadini provided the first detailed
morphological descriptions of many Tuber sporocarps
and a classification system (Trappe et al., 2009).
In the 20th century French production sharply de-
clined to the current 10-60 t per year, due to the rural
depopulation caused by the two World Wars and by the
rural to urban drift. The forest stand density increased
and much of farmers’ empirical knowledge was lost
(Olivier et al., 1996). In Italy the decline was not so
severe and it is limited to the first half of the century
(Manna, 1990). In the late 1960s the progress in truffle
cultivation seemed arrested despite the works of
Rebière and Mannozzi-Torini.
A breakthrough occurred in the early 1970s, when
researchers from the IPLA and the INRA developed
the inoculation of seedlings with Tuber in the nursery
(Chevalier, 2001). Almost 90 years before, Frank had
coined the term mycorrhiza and postulated that this
structure involved a symbiotic relationship (Trappe
et al., 2009). T. melanosporum-inoculated seedlings
were released to the market in France in 1973 (Cheva-
lier, 2001), greatly increasing plantation activity. On
the other hand, in Italy it gained momentum from 1982
(Bencivenga, 2001).
At that time French truffle growers had already
began to associate, and the government had established
public aids for plantation establishment (Olivier et al.,
1996). Italy organised the first International Truffle
Congress in 1968. Up to the 1980s the intensive culti-
vation techniques (Pallier method) were dominant in
plantations, whereas from the 1990s more extensive
models (Tanguy method) were proposed (Olivier et al.,
1996).
Spain only became involved in the international
truffle market in the 1960s, when wild truffières across
the country began to be systematically searched and
exploited. An alarming decrease in production was
observed from the 1980s, after 20-30 years of intensive
harvesting in a context of rural depopulation and in-
creasing forest stand density. Except for the Arotz esta-
te (around 600 ha planted in the 1970s), the plantation
of mycorrhizal seedlings was minimal until the 1990s.
In that decade truffle growers began to associate, and
regional governments established public assistance for
the establishment of plantations.
Current state in France, Italy
and Spain
The annual European production of T. melano-
sporum was an average of around 58 t for the period
2003-2012, although highly variable from year to year
(Table 1, Fig. 1).
In France, the production seems steady since the
1990s (Fig. 1), despite the rate of plantation (Table 1).
Our estimation of mean yield in mature plantations is
very low (Table 1), but it is consistent with the 0.5-3 kg
ha
–1
year
–1
cited by Escafre and Roussel (2006).
French growers benefit from a high domestic de-
mand (it consumes most of the French and Spanish
production), the support from public agencies to plan-
tation establishment (Sourzat, 2007), and an extensive
network of scientists and specialists (although much
of their work is not published in scientific journals)
(Table 1). The experience of experimental stations in
which researchers and growers closely collaborate,
such as that of Le Montat (Lot), seems especially in-
teresting.
In Italy, we estimate that the mean yield of mature
plantations is similar to that of France (Table 1). The
strengths of T. melanosporum cultivation are also
320 S. Reyna and S. García-Barreda / Forest Systems (2014) 23(2): 317-328
similar, with a greater emphasis on exportation
(Galluzzo, 2013). The introduction of exotic species
such as T. indicum s.l. and Tuber sinoaestivum Zhang
et Liu (Zhang et al., 2012) in Italian orchards may
become a serious problem (Murat et al., 2008; Zam-
bonelli et al., 2012).
In Spain, plantations have made up for the collapse
of wild production over the past few decades (Fig. 1).
The mean yield of mature plantations is somewhat
higher than in France and Italy (Table 1), despite the
fact that the mean age of plantations is lower (plan-
tation establishment started later). In the Arotz planta-
tion the yield in the late 1990s was lower than 2 kg ha
–1
year
–1
in non-irrigated areas, and up to 45 kg ha
–1
year
–1
in the irrigated areas (Carbajo, 1999).
Domestic consumption of truffles in Spain is less
than 10%, and promotion activities such as fairs are
still limited (Table 1). In some regions the high plan-
tation rates during the 2000s were mainly due to grants
covering 100% of the cost of plantation establishment
(excluding land purchase), thus making planting a
business in itself. Some experts argue that a part of
these plantations will not be carefully managed and
will be less likely to succeed.
Table 1. Main features of T. melanosporum production and associate activities in France, Italy and Spain
France Italy Spain
Mean production between seasons 2003-2004
and 2012-2013 (t year
–1
)
1
31.3 11.0 15.9
% truffles produced in plantations vs harvested
in the wild
2
90%-10% 50%-50% 60%-40%
Plantation surface (ha)
3
24,000 7,500 10,000
Recent rate of plantation (ha year
–1
)
3
800 400 1,000
Mean yield of mature plantations (kg ha
–1
year
–1
)
4
1.5 1.2 3.2
Main productive regions
2
Drôme (>6,500 ha), Marche (aprox. Teruel (>4,000 ha),
Lot, Vaucluse, 5,000 ha), Umbria, Soria, Huesca,
Dordogne, Gard Abruzzo Castelló
Hosts in plantations
5
Qh, Qi, Qr, Ca Qh, Qi, Oc, Ca Qi, Ca, Qf, Qc
No of nurseries
6
27 8 27
Price of seedlings (euros)
6
5-19 8-14 4-8
No of growers/harvesters
7
20,000 180,000
7
10,000
No of growers/harvesters associations
7
36 50 20
No of truffle fairs and retail markets
8
129 68 in Umbria, 15
Piemont, Toscana
and Abruzzo
No of research articles (and No of citations) on
truffles (2008-2012)
9
13 (179) 43 (209) 32 (118)
1
According to the European Group for Truffles, Oliach (pers. comm.) and Gregori (pers. comm.).
2
According to Gregori (2007) and Sourzat (2007).
3
Estimated from Escafre and Roussel (2006) and Gregori (2007).
4
We estimated the mean yield of mature plantations (1) taking into account the proportion of wild production, (2) assuming that
young plantations (less than seven years old) do not have a quantitatively meaningful production, and (3) estimating the surface of
young plantations from the recent plantation rate.
5
Qh: Quercus humilis Mill. (= Q. pubescens), Qi: Quercus ilex L, Qr: Quercus robur L, Ca: Corylus avellana L, Oc: Ostrya
carpinifolia Scop., Qf: Quercus faginea Lam., Qc: Quercus coccifera L.
6
According to Cocina et al. (2013).
7
According to GET (2002). Pettenella et al. (2004) estimated that only 5% of the Italian harvesters are professionals.
8
Including events dedicated to any Tuber species. According to Cena (2000), Materozzi (2005), FFT (2011), Marone (2011) and
FFT (2012).
9
According to Web of Science. Only articles in which the first author works in a research centre of the country are considered.
Articles on all species of Tuber are considered.
Cultivation outside the native range
North America
The first T. melanosporum-inoculated plantations
were established in 1979 in North Carolina and 1980
in California, and the first sporocarps were harvested
in 1987 in northern California (Renowden, 2005; Le-
fevre, 2012). Nowadays there are plantations from
California to southern British Columbia (Canada) and
from central Texas to North Carolina (Renowden,
2005; Lefevre, 2012). Most of them were planted after
2003 (Pilz et al., 2009). Sporocarp production has been
reported in California, North Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, Oregon and British Columbia (Lefevre, 2012;
Berch, 2013). Soils are usually limed to raise the pH.
C. avellana, Q. robur and Q. ilex are commonly used
as host plants.
These plantations have usually spread without any
coordinated initiative or technical assessment. Further-
more, in some cases the sites are far from the climatic
requirements of T. melanosporum (Lefevre, 2012). The
overall yields are far from optimum (Table 2).
Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand was the first country in the Southern
Hemisphere to establish T. melanosporum plantations
(in 1987) and to harvest sporocarps (in 1993). The ini-
tiative was led by a scientist (Ian Hall), supported by
the government (Hall and Haslam, 2012). Its develop-
ment was based on climatic and edaphic studies, pro-
duction of mycorrhizal seedlings in the country and
quality control of mycorrhizal seedlings. A variety of
field essays were established to determine the best
management practices (Guerin-Laguette et al., 2009).
However, most information remains unpublished
due to confidentiality (Hall and Haslam, 2012). C.
avellana and Q. robur were initially used as host plants,
and Q. ilex was introduced later (Zambonelli et al.,
2009).
Australia began to plant some years later and
benefited from New Zealand experience, important
subsidies for plantation establishment and a more
continued government support for research (Hall and
Haslam, 2012), thus being reflected in the planted
surface (Table 2). Plantations are currently common
in Western Australia (notably around Manjimup and
Pemberton), Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria
(Lee, 2008). The agricultural practices have been
adapted to the environmental conditions: they are more
intensive than in Europe and plantation densities are
higher (Zambonelli et al., 2009).
The productive results in both countries are con-
trasting (Fig. 2): we estimate that the mean yield of
mature plantations is 0.5 kg ha
–1
year
–1
for New Zea-
land and 9.2 kg ha
–1
year
–1
for Australia. The latter can
Black truffle cultivation: a global reality 321
Figure 1. Estimates for T. melanosporum production from season 1990-1991 in France, Italy, Spain (according to the European
Group for Truffles for the data up to 2009-2010, and to Oliach, pers. comm. and Gregori pers. comm. for the recent ones) and
Australia (Duell, 2012).
be considered an important success, although the
differences in productivity among plots are high and
most production comes from a limited number of
plantations (Hall and Haslam, 2012).
One important advantage for these countries is that
forests are dominated by endomycorrhizal plants or
ectomycorrhizal fungi very different from the Euro-
pean ones (Zambonelli et al., 2009). As calcareous
soils are scarce, liming the soil is a common practice,
like in North America, and rising of the pH can also
reduce the competitiveness of the scarce ectomy-
corrhizal fungi (Lefevre and Hall, 2000). Australia and
New Zealand produce in counter-season to the main
producers and consumers, and this helps their exports
given that the truffles are mostly consumed fresh. In
addition, their domestic demand is rapidly increasing:
truffle fairs are organised to spread its culinary use,
and about 800 kg were consumed in Australia in 2012
(Duell, 2012), with the bulk exported.
The success of some plantations is threatened by the
accidental introduction of T. brumale (through the
imported sporocarps used as inoculum) in both countries
(Linde and Selmes, 2012; Guerin-Laguette et al., 2013).
China
The first T. indicum s.l. plantation was established
in Taiwan in 1989, and the first sporocarps were har-
vested in 1997 (Hu et al., 2005). In continental China,
the first T. indicum s.l. sporocarps and the first T. me -
lanosporum sporocarps were harvested in neigh-
bouring plantations in Guizhou (Wang, 2012). Another
T. melanosporum plantation was established in Hunan
(Wang, 2012), despite the excessive summer tempe-
ratures and low winter temperatures (Hall, 2013). More
T. indicum s.l. plantations have been established in
recent years in Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan
using native Quercus, Pinus and Castanea as hosts
(Wang, 2012).
In most cases these activities were supported by uni-
versities and implied the development of nursery tech-
niques. However, quality control of seedlings is not
common and many plantations are established on forest
soils (Wang, 2012). Most truffles are exported and the
domestic demand is low.
Europe and the Mediterranean basin
T. melanosporum cultivation is being essayed across
Europe and the Mediterranean basin. However, these
322 S. Reyna and S. García-Barreda / Forest Systems (2014) 23(2): 317-328
Table 2. Main features of T. melanosporum plantations outside its natural distribution area
USA New Zealand Australia Chile South Africa Argentina
Date of first plantation 1979 1987 1993,500 2003 2008 2010
Production (kg year
–1
)
1
40 <50 4,500 7 0 0
Plantation surface (ha)
2
120 100 700,500 200 30 40
Recent rate of plantation (ha year
–1
)
3
20 Very low 30,500 35 10 20
No of nurseries
4
446,500 422
Price of seedlings (euros)
4
11-19 28-33 15-46 10-15 11 12
1
According to Lefevre (2010), Duell (2012), Guerin-Laguette et al. (2013) and Henríquez (pers. comm.)
2
According to Pilz et al. (2009), Zambonelli et al. (2009), Hall and Haslam (2012), Henríquez (pers. comm.) and Miros (pers.
comm.)
3
According to Treloar (2013); to the comparison of current surfaces to those 5-7 years ago (Ramírez et al. 2007; Lee 2008); and
in the case of the USA to seedling production of the most important nurseries (Cocina et al. 2013) and common plantation densities.
4
According to Cocina et al. (2013).
Figure 2. Estimation of current production of T. melanosporum.
plantations are still young and sparse, and in many
cases the sites do not fulfil T. melanosporum climatic
requirements. Some plantations have already produced
sporocarps in Israel, Morocco and Sweden (Khabar
2007; Turgeman et al., 2012; Wedén et al., 2013).
The interest on T. aestivum/T. uncinatum cultivation
is also recent and widespread. These plantations are more
likely to succeed given the wider ecological requirements
of this species (Stobbe et al., 2013). Israel is an
illustrating example (Turgeman et al., 2012). In 1994 T.
melanosporum-inoculated seedlings were planted, and
in 1999 a sporocarp was harvested. But in 2002 it was
impossible to find T. melanosporum mycorrhizas in the
plantation. In 1999 more seedlings were planted, but T.
aestivum-inoculated seedlings were non-intentionally
introduced. In 2010 about 15 kg ha
–1
of T. aestivum were
harvested and it has continued to fruit.
South America and South Africa
Following New Zealand’s example, the Universidad
Católica del Maule started a project to cultivate T.
melanosporum in Chile with government support (Fun-
dación para la Innovación Agraria). The first plantation
was established in 2003 and the first truffles were
harvested in 2009 (Table 2). Most plantations are
located between the regions of Valparaíso and Los
Ríos. Soils are usually limed to raise pH. Q. robur, Q.
ilex and C. avellana are the most used host plants (Hen-
ríquez, pers. comm., www.trufaschile.cl).
The initiative was based on a climatic and edaphic
study of Chile, and the development of nursery techni-
ques to produce mycorrhizal seedlings. More recently,
the public initiative is addressed to establish field es-
says aimed at determining the best management prac-
tices and the environmental factors that enhance fruit-
ing. Public efforts have been also launched to promote
the association of growers, to train farmers and to
develop commercial strategies. Being in the Southern
Hemisphere, Chile has the opportunity to produce
counter-season to Europe. In contrast, their domestic
demand is still very low, and their farmers need tech-
nical assessment on quality of mycorrhizal seedlings
and management practices.
In 2008 a nursery was established in Argentina and
the first seedlings were planted in 2010 (Table 2). The
first plantations are located in south Buenos Aires
region and Río Negro (Henríquez, pers. comm.). Peo-
ple in neighbouring countries like Uruguay, Peru and
Brazil have recently shown interest in starting truffle
cultivation projects (Henríquez, pers. comm.).
In South Africa, T. melanosporum plantations were
initiated in 2008 through a joint venture and the
establishment of several nurseries (Table 2). Q. robur,
C. avellana and Q. ilex are the most used host plants
(Miros, pers. comm., http://woodfordtruffles.co.za/).
Basic research
The cultivation of T. melanosporum is not comple-
tely domesticated, as the uncertainties around the
mating process remain (Selosse et al., 2013). Basic
research on truffles has been constricted by the dif-
ficulties to observe their development: the symbiotic
phase is microscopic and the growth of the mycelium
in pure culture is slow, whereas the sporocarp grows
underground and over a period of several months.
In recent years molecular techniques are allowing a
great progress: they are used to identify sporocarps,
mycorrhizas and mycelia; to recognise genetically
identical individuals (genets); and to determine the
molecular bases of truffle biology. The genome of T.
melanosporum has been recently sequenced by the
Tuber Genome Consortium, opening the possibilities
of genomics to truffle research (Martin et al., 2010).
These tools support novel approaches to important
research gaps in the mechanisms regulating symbiosis,
the trophic state of the fungus, population genetics and
the mechanisms involved in fruiting. Linking gene
functions and interactions with the biology and ecology
of the fungus will improve the design and management
of plantations.
An important breakthrough has been the confirma-
tion that T. melanosporum is heterothallic (Riccioni
et al., 2008), the identification of two mating types,
and the characterisation of the genes involved (Rubini
et al., 2011a). However, the sex organs are still largely
unknown: only ascogonia have been rarely reported
(Callot, 1999). Le Tacon et al. (2013) hypothesised
that the ascogonium connects the mycorrhiza to the
sporocarp during all its development.
The understanding of the ectomycorrhizal relation
is being improved by recent studies on the signalling
pathways to its establishment, the mechanisms of the
fungus to inhibit the defensive response of the plant,
the mechanisms of the partners to control each other,
the role of nutrients transfer in the maintenance of the
relation, the ability of the fungus to cleave sucrose
Black truffle cultivation: a global reality 323
(Plett and Martin, 2011) or the role of truffle volatiles
in the first contact (Splivallo et al., 2011).
Although T. melanosporum retains some genes en-
coding enzymes responsible for degrading plant living
cells, it has less degradative enzymes than saprotrophic
fungi, thus indicating a lower ability to degrade organic
tissues (Plett and Martin, 2011). This makes the fungus
highly dependent on its host: Le Tacon et al. (2013) found
that even in the late stages of the sporocarp development
most carbon was supplied by the plant. The analysis of
the transcription factors can help to understand the
variations in the trophic behaviour of the fungus in each
developmental stage (Montanini et al., 2011).
The methods for quantifying mycelium of T. mela-
nosporum in the soil have allowed Liu et al. (2014) to
monitor its spread and increase of density in young
plantations. Suz et al. (2008) showed the relation bet-
ween the abundance of mycelium and the formation of
the brûlé. Liu et al. (2014) also hypothesised the
existence of a mycelium-carrying capacity of the soil,
and it would be interesting to understand the relation
of this with the abundance of volatiles.
Murat et al. (2013) found that T. melanosporum
genets in young plantations were mostly small (dia-
meter lower than 1 m), and few of them were found
from year to year. Rubini et al. (2011b) showed that in
the nursery genets compete each other for root tips,
leading to the exclusion of most genets in 18 month-
old seedlings. In the field intraspecific competition
causes a spatial separation between mating types that
can affect fruiting potential (Rubini et al., 2011b).
Selosse et al. (2013) hypothesised that the mating-type
genes could also be controlling vegetative incompa-
tibility, but Iotti et al. (2012) did not find genes related
to mating-type heterokaryon incompatibility in T.
melanosporum.
The understanding of the mechanisms triggering
fruiting is being improved by the studies on the re-
gulome involved in developmental shifts from the sym-
biotic to the reproductive phase, on carbon transfer
from the plant to the sporocarp, and on mating types.
But it is also essential to know which factors of the soil
environment are involved: Pacioni et al. (2014) sug-
gested that variations in soil temperature and water
content in spring are key, and proposed to use ground
penetrating radars to monitor the sporocarps without
disturbing their environment.
The translation of basic research to agricultural
practices can be obscured by the interaction between
T. melanosporum and other soil organisms (e.g. fungal
competitors, bacteria modulating the mycorrhizal
relation, or interacting with the fruiting). Metageno-
mics makes the study of soil microbial communities
easier.
Cultivation challenges
Nowadays many of the practices in T. melanosporum
cultivation are still empirical. The success of planta-
tions cannot be guaranteed: plantations largely differ
in the sporocarp yield, the percentage of productive
trees and the age at which they start producing (pro-
ductive onsets at age 4 and later than year 15 have been
reported).
The quality of some nursery seedlings is a problem
in countries without mandatory certification systems.
It can be the cause of failure for some plantations and
the way that exotic species are introduced. The pro-
duction of seedlings with known mating types is a
challenge for the future, since they are currently ino-
culated with spores (Rubini et al., 2011b).
The experience in North America and the Southern
Hemisphere proved that it is possible to grow truffles
in naturally acidic soils after liming. But if not enough
lime is added to stabilise the pH, it decreases in a few
years, making periodic liming necessary.
Sourzat (2008, 2010) drew attention to other soil-
related issues jeopardising the success of plantations
in France: the chemicals applied in the previous land
use and the high pressure of ectomycorrhizal compe-
titors (particularly T. brumale and T. aestivum) in land-
scapes dominated by forest patches. The competition
of soil-borne fungi points to the need to understand
better the factors determining the structure of ecto-
mycorrhizal communities and their dynamics, in-
cluding the possible role of truffle volatiles (Splivallo
et al., 2011).
In contrast, in Spain the plantations are usually
located in extensive agricultural landscapes, so these
problems are less frequent. However, temperatures are
higher and rainfall is more scarce and irregular. This
reduces the survival of the sporocarps during the sum-
mer, making research on irrigation and soil water con-
servation a priority.
Other challenges in French plantations (Sourzat,
2008, 2010) are the short productive life of some young
plantations and the high stand densities in mature plan-
tations. The latter draws attention to the importance of
pruning and thinning. Old plantations (planted before
324 S. Reyna and S. García-Barreda / Forest Systems (2014) 23(2): 317-328
the 1970s) which are not producing currently are seen
as an opportunity for spreading truffle production by
forest management.
Large concentrations of plantations pose new
threats: e.g. the truffle growers in Sarrión (Teruel)
complain that in recent years the damages of insects
on sporocarps are increasing, especially in dry and hot
autumns.
Outside France and Italy most plantations are still
young and management techniques are not adapted to
the local conditions (soil water and temperature regi-
mes, aeration, organic matter, host plants, soil-borne
ectomycorrhizal community, etc.) yet. There is not a
unique management system that works in all the envi-
ronmental conditions suitable for T. melanosporum
growth. Monitoring mycorrhizas and mycelium, tree
growth and physiology, and soil microclimate in these
plantations is highly recommendable. In this way, it
could be assured that they remain potentially success-
ful, and that management practices could be quickly
improved.
A major problem in Australia is the abundance of
sporocarps growing near the soil surface in irrigated
plantations. These are more frequently damaged by
pests, diseases, desiccation and frosts. The first studies
on the matter point that reducing the irrigation and
increasing the irrigation interval could help to decrease
the damages (Eslick and Dell, 2013).
In countries with a meaningful wild production
(Spain and Italy) the conservation of this production
is an important concern: this involves sustainable har-
vesting and habitat improvement (Garcia-Barreda and
Reyna, 2013).
Finally, if climate change predictions for the Medi-
terranean basin (decrease in summer rainfall, increase
of temperatures and increase in interannual variability
of both rainfall and temperature) are confirmed, the
suitability of many native T. melanosporum areas for
cultivation (specially the warmest ones) will be redu-
ced (Colinas et al., 2007). A planning effort will be
needed to assess the future suitability of the current
native range and to adapt the cultural practices to the
new situation.
Acknowledgements
This work was partially funded by the INIA project
PET 2007-13-C07-04. We would like to thank Luz
Cocina for her help with the text in English.
References
Bencivenga M, 2001. La tartuficoltura in Italia: problema-
tiche e prospettive. Actes du V
e
Congrès International
Science et culture de la truffe, Aix-en-Provence (France),
March 4-6 1999. pp: 27-29.
Bencivenga M, Di Massimo G, Donnini D, Baciarelli-Falini
L, 2009. The cultivation of truffles in Italy. Acta Bot
Yunnan 31(S16): 21-28.
Berch SM, 2013. Truffle cultivation and commercially har-
vested native truffles. Proceeding International Sympo-
sium on Forest Mushroom, Korea Forest Research Insti-
tute, August. 6 2013 pp: 85-97.
Boa ER, 2004. Wild edible fungi: a global overview of their
use and importance to people. FAO, Rome.
Bonet JA, Colinas C, 2001. Cultivo de Tuber melanosporum
Vitt. Condiciones y rentabilidad. Forestalia 5: 38-45.
Bonito G, Trappe JM, Vilgalys R, 2009. North American
truffles in the Tuberaceae: molecular and morphological
perspectives. Acta Bot Yunnan 31(S16): 39-51.
Bonito G, Gryganskyi AP, Trappe JM, Vilgalys R, 2010. A
global meta-analysis of Tuber ITS rDNA sequences:
species diversity, host associations and long-distance dis-
persal. Mol Ecol 19: 4994-5008.
Callot G (coord), 1999. La truffe, la terre, la vie. INRA,
Paris.
Carbajo P, 1999. Plantación de encinas micorrizadas para la
producción de trufas (Tuber melanosporum) en la pro-
vincia de Soria. In: Micorrización en áreas mediterráneas
de la Península Ibérica (Vázquez FM, Rincón S, Ramos
S, Doncel E, eds). Junta de Extremadura, Mérida, Spain.
pp: 107-111.
Cena C (coord), 2000. Tutto tartufo Il tartufo in Piemonte.
Fabiano Ed, Canelli, Italy.
Chevalier G, 2001. Le plant mycorhizé INRA: passé, present,
avenir. Actes du V
e
Congrès International Science et cul-
ture de la truffe, Aix-en-Provence (France), March 4-6
1999. pp: 300-303.
Chevalier G, Frochot H, 1997. La truffe de Bourgogne. Ed
Pétrarque, Levallois-Perret, France.
Cocina L, Barriuso J, Martín M, Sánchez S, 2013. A review
of nurseries producing mycorrhizal plants in Spain and
the world. 1st International Congress of Trufficulture
Tuber 2013, Teruel (Spain), March 5-8.
Colinas C, Capdevila JM, Oliach D, Fischer CR, Bonet JA,
2007. Mapa de aptitud para el cultivo de la trufa negra
(Tuber melanosporum Vitt.) en Catalunya. Centre Tecno-
lògic Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain.
Diette S, Lauriac A, 2005. La sylviculture truffière: aperçus
historiques, apports techniques et enjeux pour la région
méditerranéene. For Méditerr 26: 157-168.
Domínguez-Torres G, Plana E, 2002. The paradox of Medi-
terranean forests: between economic profitability and
social demands. The Catalan case. Proc 2002-02 Forest
and Nature Conservation Policy Group “Nature Forest in
society. The changing role of forestry in Europe: pers-
pectives for rural development”, Wageningen (Nether-
lands), November 11-14 2001. pp: 133-145.
Black truffle cultivation: a global reality 325
Duell G, 2012. The President’s Report. [online]. National
Conference of the Australian Truffle Growers Association.
Available in http://www.trufflegrowers.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2012/09/2012-Presidents-Report.pdf. [13 July
2013].
Escafre A, Roussel F, 2006 Rapport relatif au développement
de la trufficulture française. [online]. Available in http://agri-
culture.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/developpement_truffi_franc.pdf.
[13 July 2013].
Eslick H, Dell B, 2013. The role of irrigation in the rot
of truffles in Western Australia. 1st International Con-
gress of Trufficulture Tuber 2013, Teruel (Spain), March
5-8.
Fédération Française des Trufficulteurs, 2011. Où acheter
la truffe? Marchés de détails, contrôlés par les organi-
sations de trufficulteurs, de fin 2011 au printemps 2012.
[online]. Available in http://www.fft-tuber.org/0186_001.pdf.
[13 July 2013].
Fédération Française des Trufficulteurs, 2012. Marchés aux
truffes en été et automne 2012. [online]. Available in
http://www.fft-tuber.org/marche.pdf. [13 July 2013].
Galluzzo N, 2013. Italian truffle cultivation and its com-
mercial trend in the European Union market. IJASR 3:
47-58.
Garcia-Barreda S, Reyna S, 2013. Response of Tuber mela-
nosporum fruiting to canopy opening in a Pinus-Quercus
forest. Ecol Eng 53, 54-60.
Granetti B, 2005. L’evoluzione delle richerche sui tartufi.
In: Umbria, terra di tartufi (Granetti B, De Angelis A,
Materozzi G, eds). Regione Umbria - Gruppo Micologico
Ternano, Terni, Italy. pp: 7-15.
Gregori GL, 2007. Principales aspectos de la trufa y la
truficultura en Italia. In: Truficultura Fundamentos
y técnicas (Reyna S, ed). Mundi-Prensa, Madrid. pp:
433-464.
Gregori GL, 2013. Truffle and truffle cultivation in Italy:
main aspects and news. 1st International Congress of
Trufficulture Tuber 2013, Teruel (Spain), March 5-8.
Groupement Européen Tuber, 2002. Programme de develop-
pement de la trufficulture et de reconstitution de l’espace
truffier en Europe. [online]. Available in http://www.fft-
tuber.org/GET.pdf. [13 July 2013].
Guerin-Laguette A, Hesom-Williams N, Parmenter G,
Strong G, Wang Y, 2009. Field research and cultivation
of truffles in New Zealand: an update. Acta Bot Yunnan
31(S16): 90-93.
Guerin-Laguette A, Cummings N, Hesom-Williams N, Bu-
tler R, Wang Y, 2013. Mycorrhiza analyses in New Zea-
land truffières reveal frequent but variable persistence of
Tuber melanosporum in co-existence with other truffle
species. Mycor 23: 87-98.
Hall IR, 2013. Areas of China with suitable January and July
air temperatures for the Périgord black truffle. Available
at: http://www.trufflesandmushrooms.co.nz/Areas%20
of%20China%20with%20suitable%20air%20temperatures
%20for%20the%20Perigord%20black%20truffle.pdf
Hall IR, Haslam W, 2012. Truffle cultivation in the Southern
Hemisphere. In: Edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms Cur-
rent knowledge and future prospects (Zambonelli A,
Bonito GM, eds). Springer, Berlin. pp: 191-208.
Hu HT, Wang Y, Hu BY, 2005. Cultivation of Tuber formo-
sanum on limed soil in Taiwan. New Zeal J Crop Hort 33:
363-366.
Iotti M, Rubini A, Tisserant E, Kholer A, Paolocci F, Zam-
bonelli A, 2012. Self/nonself recognition in Tuber melano-
sporum is not mediated by a heterokaryon incompatibility
system. Fungal Biol 116: 261-275.
Khabar L, 2007. Truffes au Maroc: état actuel du Tuber oligo-
spermum et T. melanosporum. Technical presentations and
posters 1st World Conference on the Conservation and
Sustainable Use of Wild Fungi, Córdoba (Spain), De-
cember 10-16. pp: 224-226.
Le Tacon F, Zeller B, Plain C, Hossann C, Bréchet C, Robin
C, 2013. Carbon transfer from the host to Tuber melano-
sporum mycorrhizas and ascocarps followed using a 13C
pulse-labeling technique. PloS ONE 8(5): e64626.
Lee B, 2008. Taking Stock of the Australian Truffle Industry.
[online]. Rural Industries Research and Development
Corporation. Available in http://www.trufflegrowers.com.au/
wp-content/uploads/2006/09/08-124-Barry-Lees-Final-
Report.pdf. [13 July 2013].
Lefevre C, 2010. Truffles and truffle cultivation in North
America. Atti 3º Congresso Internazionale sul Tartufo,
Spoleto (Italy), November 25-28 2008. p: 64.
Lefevre C, 2012. Native and cultivated truffles of North
America. In: Edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms Current
knowledge and future prospects (Zambonelli A, Bonito
GM, eds). Springer, Berlin. pp: 209-226.
Lefevre C, Hall I, 2000. The status of truffle cultivation: a
global perspective. Acta Hortic 556, 513-520.
Linde CC, Selmes H, 2012. Genetic diversity and mating
type distribution of Tuber melanosporum and their
significance to truffle cultivation in artificially planted
truffières in Australia. Appl Environ Microb 78: 6534-
6539.
Liu B, Fischer C, Bonet JA, Olivera A, Inchusta A, Colinas
C, 2014. Pattern of Tuber melanosporum extramatrical
mycelium expansion over a 20-year chronosequence in
Quercus ilex truffle orchards. Mycor 24 (Suppl 1): S47-
S54.
Manna D, 1990. La tartuficoltura nello spoletino. Atti del
secondo congresso internazionale sul tartufo, Spoleto
(Italy), November 24-27 1998. pp: 579-590.
Manna D, 2005. Le vicende del tartufo in Umbria. In: Um-
bria, terra di tartufi (Granetti B, De Angelis A, Materozzi
G, eds). Regione Umbria - Gruppo Micologico Ternano,
Terni, Italy. pp: 209-219.
Marone E (coord), 2011. La filiera del tartufo e la sua
valorizzazione in Toscana e Abruzzo. Firenze University
Press, Firenze, Italy.
Martin F, Kohler A, Murat C, Balestrini R, Coutinho PM,
Jaillon O et al., 2010. Périgord black truffle genome un-
covers evolutionary origins and mechanisms of symbiosis.
Nature 464: 1033-1038.
Materozzi G, 2005. Fiere e mostre mercato del tartufo in
Umbria. In: Umbria, terra di tartufi (Granetti B, De An-
326 S. Reyna and S. García-Barreda / Forest Systems (2014) 23(2): 317-328
gelis A, Materozzi G, eds). Regione Umbria - Gruppo Mi-
cologico Ternano, Terni, Italy. pp: 254-255.
Montanini B, Levati E, Bolchi A, Kohler A, Morin E, Tisserant
E et al., 2011. Genome-wide search and functional
identification of transcription factors in the mycorrhizal
fungus Tuber melanosporum. New Phytol 189: 736-750.
Murat C, Zampieri E, Vizzini A, Bonfante P, 2008. Is the
Perigord black truffle threatened by an invasive spe-
cies? We dreaded it and it has happened! New Phytol 178:
699-702.
Murat C, Rubini A, Riccioni C, De la Varga H, Akroume E,
Belfiori B et al. 2013. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure
of the black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) investigated
with neutral microsatellites and functional mating type
genes. New Phytol 199: 176-187.
Olivier JM, Savignac JC, Sourzat P, 1996. Truffe et truffi-
culture. Ed Fanlac, Perigueux, France.
Pacioni G, Leonardi M, Di Carlo P, De Laurentis G, 2014.
Instrumental monitoring of the birth and development of
truffles in a Tuber melanosporum orchard. Mycor 24
(Suppl 1): S65-S72.
Pettenella D, Klöhn S, Brun F, Carbone F, Venzi L, Cesaro
L, Ciccarese L, 2004. Italy’s country report. [online]. Cost
Action E30 Economic integration of urban consumers’
demand and rural forestry production. Available in
http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/atmosfera/italy-re-
port.pdf. [13 July 2013].
Pilz D, Lefevre C, Scott L, Julian J, 2009. Oregon culinary
truffles: an emergent industry for forestry, agriculture
and culinary tourism. [online]. Available in http://www.
oregontruffles.org/truffles_feasibility_final.pdf. [13 July
2013].
Pinto-Correia T, 1993. Land abandonment: Changes in the
land use patterns around the Mediterranean basin. In: Etat
de l’Agriculture en Méditerranée. Les sols dans la région
méditerranéenne: utilisation, gestion et perspectives
d’évolution. CIHEAM, Zaragoza, Spain pp: 97-112.
Plett JM, Martin F, 2011. Blurred boundaries: lifestyle
lessons from ectomycorrhizal fungal genomes. Trends
Genet 27: 14-22.
Ramírez R, Henríquez R, Reyna S, Suárez R, 2007. Cultivo
de la trufa negra en Chile. In: Truficultura Fundamentos
y técnicas (Reyna S, ed). Mundi-Prensa, Madrid. pp: 483-
492.
Renowden G, 2005. The truffle book. Limestone Hills Publ,
Amberley, New Zealand.
Reyna S, 2007a. Introducción: Historia y perspectivas de la
truficultura. In: Truficultura Fundamentos y técnicas
(Reyna S, ed). Mundi-Prensa, Madrid. pp: 27-49.
Reyna S, 2007b. Sostenibilidad de la truficultura: aspectos
ecológicos, económicos y sociales. In: Truficultura Fun-
damentos y técnicas (Reyna S, ed). Mundi-Prensa, Ma-
drid. pp: 51-73.
Riccioni C, Belfiori B, Rubini A, Passeri V, Arcioni S,
Paolocci F, 2008. Tuber melanosporum outcrosses: ana-
lysis of the genetic diversity within and among its natural
populations under this new scenario. New Phytol 180:
466-478.
Rubini A, Belfiori B, Riccioni C, Tisserant E, Arcioni S,
Martin F, Paolocci F, 2011a. Isolation and characterization
of MAT genes in the symbiotic ascomycete Tuber melano-
sporum. New Phytol 189: 710-722.
Rubini A, Belfiori B, Riccioni C, Arcioni S, Martin F,
Paolocci F, 2011b. Tuber melanosporum: mating type dis-
tribution in a natural plantation and dynamics of strains
of different mating types on the roots of nursery-inocu-
lated host plants. New Phytol 189: 723-735.
Selosse, MA, Taschen E, Giraud T, 2013. Do black truffles
avoid sexual harassment by linking mating type and vege-
tative incompatibility? New Phytol 199: 10-13.
Sourzat P, 2007. La truficultura en Francia. In: Truficultura
Fundamentos y técnicas (Reyna S, ed). Mundi-Prensa,
Madrid. pp: 399-431.
Sourzat P (coord), 2008. Principe de précaution en trufficul-
ture. Station Trufficulture du Montat, Le Montat, France.
Sourzat P (coord), 2010. L’environnement truffier: contrain-
tes et gestion. Station Trufficulture du Montat, Le Montat,
France.
Splivallo R, Ottonello S, Mello A, Karlovsky P, 2011. Truffle
volatiles: from chemical ecology to aroma biosynthesis.
New Phytol 189: 688-699.
Stobbe U, Egli S, Tegel W, Peter M, Sproll L, Büntgen U,
2013. Potential and limitations of Burgundy truffle culti-
vation. Appl Microbiol Biot 97: 5215-5224.
Suz LM, Martín MP, Oliach D, Fischer CR, Colinas C, 2008.
Mycelial abundance and other factors related to truffle
productivity in Tuber melanosporum-Quercus ilex or-
chards. FEMS Microbiol Lett 285: 72-78.
Trappe JM, Molina R, Luoma DL, Cázares E, Pilz D, Smith
JE et al., 2009. Diversity, ecology, and conservation of
truffle fungi in forests of the Pacific Northwest. USDA
General Technical Report PNW-GTR-772.
Treloar I, 2013. New Zealand Truffle Association
Overview. [online]. National Conference of the Aus-
tralian Truffle Growers Association. Available in
http://www.trufflegrowers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2012/09/New-Zealand-Truffle-Association-Over-
view.pdf. [13 July 2013].
Turgeman T, Sitrit Y, Danai O, Luzzati Y, Bustan A, Roth-
Bejerano N et al., 2012. Introduced Tuber aestivum re-
placing introduced Tuber melanosporum: a case study.
Agroforest Syst 84: 337-343.
Wang X, 2012. Truffle cultivation in China. In: Edible ecto-
mycorrhizal mushrooms Current knowledge and future
prospects (Zambonelli A, Bonito GM, eds). Springer,
Berlin. pp: 227-240.
Wang YJ, Tan ZM, Zhang DC, Murat C, Jeandroz S, Le Tacon
F, 2006. Phylogenetic and populational study of the Tuber
indicum complex. Mycol Res 110: 1034-1045.
Wedén C, Chevalier G, Backlund A, 2013. The first pro-
duction results of Tuber melanosporum in Sweden. 1st
International Congress of Trufficulture Tuber 2013, Teruel
(Spain), March 5-8.
Zambonelli A, Iotti M, Rossi I, Hall I, 2000. Interactions
between Tuber borchii and other ectomycorrhizal fungi
in a field plantation. Mycol Res 104: 698-702.
Black truffle cultivation: a global reality 327
Zambonelli A, Hall IR, Fitzpatrick N, 2009. Lecture de
l’approche de la trufficulture dans l’Hemisphère Austral
à la lumière de l’expérience italienne. In: Les nouvelles
techniques de culture de la truffe (Olivier JM, Vilatte C,
coord). MGD Imprimeurs, Sarlat, France. pp: 68-77.
Zambonelli A, Iotti M, Piattoni F, 2012. Chinese Tuber
aestivum sensu lato in Europe. Open Mycol J 6: 22-26.
Zhang JP, Liu PG, Chen J, 2012. Tuber sinoaestivum sp. nov.,
an edible truffle from southwestern China. Mycotaxon
122: 73-82.
328 S. Reyna and S. García-Barreda / Forest Systems (2014) 23(2): 317-328
... Truffles (Tuber spp.) are ectomycorrhizal fungi that grow in symbiotic relationships with the fine roots of their perennial host plants and form underground fruitbodies (Trappe and Claridge 2009). More than 200 truffle species have so far been described worldwide (Reyna and Garcia-Barreda 2014;Berch and Bonito 2016;Wan et al. 2017;Eberhart et al. 2020), of which about ten species are commonly harvested for human consumption (Hall et al. 2003). Of these, only three truffle species-the Burgundy (Tuber aestivum Vittad.), ...
... Of these, only three truffle species-the Burgundy (Tuber aestivum Vittad.), Périgord (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.), and White (Tuber magnatum Picco.; WT) truffle-receive great economic value (Stobbe et al. 2012;Reyna and Garcia-Barreda 2014;Pieroni 2016;Vita et al. 2018). Priced between tens and lower hundreds of Euros per kilogramme (Stobbe et al. 2012), the Burgundy truffle does not require high soil alkalinity and has a temperature range almost 2.5 times wider than that of the Périgord truffle (Čejka et al. 2020). ...
... The Périgord truffle prefers well-drained soils with a high pH level ~ 8 and grows in regions where temperature average reaches ~ 20 °C during hot summers and 4 °C during mild winters (Čejka et al. 2020). In addition to southern Europe, the Périgord truffle is cultivated in California, Chile, South Africa, and Australasia (Reyna and Garcia-Barreda, 2014;Thomas et al., 2019;Čejka et al. 2022), where each kilogramme can bring hundreds of Euros to the local economy (Oliach et al. 2021). The WT is with thousands of Euros/kg the most expensive Tuber species (Büntgen et al. 2019a). ...
Article
Full-text available
The white truffle (Tuber magnatum Picco.; WT) is the most expensive and arguably also the most delicious species within the genus Tuber. Due to its hidden belowground life cycle, complex host symbiosis, and yet unknown distribution, cultivation of the enigmatic species has only recently been achieved at some plantations in France. A sustainable production of WTs under future climate change, however, requires a better ecological understanding of the species' natural occurrence. Here, we combine information from truffle hunters with a literature review to assess the climatic, edaphic, geographic, and symbiotic characteristics of 231 reported WT sites in southeast Europe. Our meta-study shows that 75% of the WT sites are located outside the species' most famous harvest region, the Piedmont in northern Italy. Spanning a wide geographic range from ~ 37° N in Sicily to ~ 47° N in Hungary, and elevations between sea level in the north and 1000 m asl in the south, all WT sites are characterised by mean winter temperatures > 0.4 °C and summer precipitation totals of ~ 50 mm. Often formed during past flood or landslide events, current soil conditions of the WT sites exhibit pH levels between 6.4 and 8.7, high macroporosity, and a cation exchange capacity of ~ 17 meq/100 g. At least 26 potential host species from 12 genera were reported at the WT sites, with Populus alba and Quercus cerris accounting for 23.5% of all plant species. We expect our findings to contribute to a sustainable WT industry under changing environmental and economic conditions.
... When researchers in the 1970s developed the controlled production of mycorrhizal seedlings, black truffle cultivation had a major boost and nowadays, it has become an important economic alternative for rural areas (Olivier et al., 1996;Chevalier, 2001). More than 40,000 ha of seedlings inoculated with T. melanosporum have been planted in southern Europe, with plantations playing a largely dominant role in the global truffle production and with Quercus ilex L. being the main host tree in Spain and also widely used in France and Italy (Bencivenga, 2001;Chevalier, 2001;Reyna and Garcia-Barreda, 2014). ...
... Q. ilex was selected as the host plant for the study because it is the most widely used species in Spanish truffle plantations (Reyna and Garcia-Barreda, 2014). For each experiment, we acquired Q. ilex acorns of the Spanish provenance region Sistema Ib erico from the Centro Nacional de Recursos Gen eticos Forestales. ...
... 20 ) A further example is the precious black truffle Tuber melanosporum, named by Carlo Vittadini, 29 that achieves market prices of 950−4,000 €/kg due to its unique taste and smell. 18,30 The Peŕigord truffle, as Tuber melanosporum is also called, grows mainly in France, Spain, and Italy. 22 Since Tuber melanosporum as an originally European fungus can also be cultivated with some effort, it is now farmed in Australia, 31 Chile, 32 Argentina, 33 New Zealand, 34 and other countries as well. ...
Article
Full-text available
The price of different truffle types varies according to their culinary value, sometimes by more than a factor of 10. Nonprofessionals can hardly distinguish visually the species within the white or black truffles, making the possibility of food fraud very easy. Therefore, the identification of different truffle species (Tuber spp.) is an analytical task that could be solved in this study. The polar extract from a total of 80 truffle samples was analyzed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods covering five commercially relevant species. All classification models were validated applying a repeated nested cross-validation. In direct comparison, the two very similar looking and closely related black representatives Tuber melanosporum and Tuber indicum could be classified 100% correctly. The most expensive truffle Tuber magnatum could be distinguished 100% from the other relevant white truffle Tuber borchii. In addition, signals for a potential Tuber borchii and a potential Tuber melanosporum marker for targeted approaches could be detected, and the corresponding molecules were identified as betaine and ribonate. A model covering all five truffle species Tuber aestivum, Tuber borchii, Tuber indicum, Tuber magnatum, and Tuber melanosporum was able to correctly discriminate between each of the species.
... Thanks to Joseph Talon, who devised the first truffle growing method and laid the foundation for contemporary truffle plantations. In addition to its natural habitat, T. melanosporum plantations have received considerable attention in recent decades, particularly in Mediterranean and Mediterranean-like microclimate regions as in the pioneer France, Spain, and Italy (Bonito et al. 2011;Reyna and Garcia-Barreda 2014;Thomas 2014;Zambonelli et al. 2017;Ori et al. 2018). It is currently cultivated in many countries across the world (Cântar et al. 2014;Zambonelli et al. 2017;Hall et al. 2017; Thomas and Büntgen 2017;Ori et al. 2018;Meadows et al. 2020;Bajaj et al. 2021). ...
Article
Full-text available
Tuber melanosporum is one of the most economically important truffle species. Besides harvesting from its natural habitats, this truffle can also be extensively grown through artificial cultivation. However, the natural habitat of T. melanosporum has drastically declined, and the demand for the truffle in society is rapidly increasing. Therefore, enhancing production in truffle orchards by seeking new places for the establishment and regularly monitoring its adaptability might be an effective method for ensuring the sustainable productivity of the species. As a truffle science, recent information is important to further success in the growth of this truffle species. This study reports mycorrhization level and ascocarp production in two truffle plantations in Hungary. The estimated mycorrhization levels of the host plants were 43.36% in Biatorbágy and 42.93% in Jászszentandrás plantations. In March 2020, the 6-year-old and 18-year-old T. melanosporum plantations yielded around 100 g and 980 g of ascocarps, respectively. In general, adaptation of mycorrhizal seedlings in Hungary may become more effective as present management practices improve.
... In addition, truffle plantations have been shown to have beneficial socioeconomic impacts on their surrounding areas [11,12]. Plantations have been increasing in recent decades due to the greater economic benefits of truffle production than any other forest product in many Mediterranean forests [13]. Spain is one of the largest black truffle producers in the world [14] because its soil and climatic conditions are suitable for black Agronomy 2023, 13, 2505 2 of 12 truffle cultivation [8], and it is one of the few places in the world to have a vast number of naturally productive sites [15]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Spain is one of the main producers of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.), a fungus of great economic importance. Black truffles are usually cultivated in Quercus ilex orchards, as water availability is one of the most important factors influencing truffle production. Optimizing watering systems is essential to reduce the amount of water wasted. Nevertheless, up to now, no study has been carried out comparing the efficiency of different irrigation systems in truffle plantations. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of two different irrigation systems, namely a drip irrigation system and a micro-sprinkler system, in a Quercus ilex plantation situated in Burgos, Spain. Our data showed that there were no differences between the two irrigation systems in terms of truffle yields, the number of truffles, quality (based on truffle size), or the date of truffle harvesting. However, when other parameters were taken into consideration, such as the economic and environmental impact of installing and running these systems, drip irrigation was deemed the superior irrigation system because it uses less water. This study validates for the first time the use of drip irrigation rather than a micro-sprinkler system (the most commonly used in truffle plantations) because of its greater water use efficiency, which is an increasingly important consideration given future climate change scenarios marked by global water scarcity.
... However, when considering the nutritional values previously reported for other desert truffles, we consider that it is likely that the T. arenaria's nutritional and chemical composition we report here could represent this species' composition. Nonetheless, T. arenaria's nutritional and mineral composition was similar to the most commercialized and appreciated species of mushrooms and truffles in the world, such as A. bisporus, L. edodes, P. ostreatus and T. melanosporum [79,80] ( Tables 2 and 3). Despite their similarities, T. arenaria have a closer resemblance to meat than the other edible mushrooms (Figure 2). ...
Article
Full-text available
Terfezia arenaria is a desert truffle native to the Mediterranean Basin region, highly appreciated for its nutritional and aromatic properties. Despite the increasing interest in this desert truffle, T. arenaria is not listed as an edible truffle authorized for trade in the European Union. Therefore, our objective was to showcase T. arenaria’s nutritional and chemical composition and volatile profile. The nutritional analysis showed that T. arenaria is a good source of carbohydrates (67%), proteins (14%), and dietary fibre (10%), resulting in a Nutri-Score A. The truffle’s volatile profile was dominated by eight-carbon volatile compounds, with 1-octen-3-ol being the most abundant (64%), and 29 compounds were reported for the first time for T. arenaria. T. arenaria’s nutritional and chemical compositions were similar to those of four commercial mushroom and truffle species, while the aromatic profile was not. An electronic nose corroborated that T. arenaria‘s aromatic profile differs from that of the other four tested mushroom and truffle species. Our data showed that T. arenaria is a valuable food resource with a unique aroma and an analogous composition to meat, which makes it an ideal source for plant-based meat products. Our findings could help promote a sustainable future exploitation of T. arenaria and ensure the quality and authenticity of this delicacy.
... 27 28 that achieves market prices of 950-4000 €/kg due to its special taste and smell. 18,29 The Périgord truffle, as Tuber melanosporum is also called, grows mainly in France, Spain and Italy. 22 Since Tuber melanosporum as an originally European fungus can also be cultivated with some effort, it is now farmed in Australia as well. ...
Preprint
Full-text available
The price of different truffle types varies according to their culinary value, sometimes by more than a factor of ten. Non-professionals can hardly distinguish the species within the white or black truffles by eye, which makes the possibility of food fraud very easy. Therefore, the identification of different truffle species (Tuber spp.) is an analytical task that could be solved in this study. The polar extract from a total of 80 truffle samples were analyzed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods covering five commercially relevant species. All classification models were validated with nested cross-validation. The two very similar looking and closely related black representatives Tuber melanosporum and Tuber indicum could be classified 100% correctly in direct comparison. The most expensive truffle Tuber magnatum could be distinguished 100% from the other relevant white truffle Tuber borchii. Furthermore, signals for a potential Tuber borchii, and a potential Tuber melanosporum marker for targeted approaches could be detected and the corresponding molecules were identified as betaine and ribonate. A model covering all five truffle species Tuber aestivum, Tuber borchii, Tuber indicum, Tuber magnatum and Tuber melanosporum was able to correctly discriminate between all species.
... The most favorite edible fungi species are chanterelles and boletes (56). Studies have shown that mushrooms, especially truffles, are highly preferred non-wood forest commodities in Southern European countries such as Italy, France, and Spain (57,58). The culinary traditions associated with truffle consumption have led to high demand and economic importance (59)(60)(61). ...
Article
Full-text available
With the alarming increase in dying trees and massive logging in the Czech forests due to bark beetle infestation, the collection of non-wood forest products, a beneficial recreational activity in the Czech Republic, is now being promoted as an alternative to wood provisioning services. This paper aims to present findings on the non-wood forest product preferences in the country as part of a baseline assessment for promoting the usage. This study relied on the 2019 national survey data of public preferences in collecting forest berries, mushrooms, honey, and medicinal herbs. K-means cluster analysis was employed to classify the respondents. A binary logistic regression with a conditional forward approach was employed to identify the potential predictors of the high preference for each non-wood forest product. Data from 1,050 online respondents were included, and two groups of respondents were clustered based on their preferences for the entire non-wood forest, i.e., higher and lower utilization. The regression analysis revealed that frequent forest visitors were the primary predictor of high utilization of all non-wood forest products (between 1.437 to 4.579 odd ratios), in addition to age, gender, and location of the forest property. By clustering the respondents based on the high and low preferences in utilizing non-wood forest products, the promotion of this service, from recreational to potential livelihood activities and economic benefits, can be better targeted, e.g., target customer, infrastructure development in the location with high preferences, scenarios based on the type of owners (municipal or private forest owners), which in accordance to the national forest policy and laws, and, at the same time, maintain the ecological stability.
... highl y a ppr eciated in haute cuisine . It grows wild in southern Europe, although no w adays most of truffle production comes from cultivated or char ds established with seedlings pr e viousl y inoculated in contr olled conditions (Olivier et al. 2002 , Reyna andGarcia-Barreda 2014 ). Truffle cultivation has spread and advanced greatly in recent decades, although uncertainties regarding mating and the ascocarp development processes still remain (Pacioni et al. 2014, Le Tacon et al. 2016. ...
Article
Truffle growers devote great efforts to improve black truffle productivity, developing agronomic practices such as 'truffle nests' (peat amendments that are supplemented with truffle spore inoculum). It has been hypothesized that improved fruiting associated with nests is linked to stimulation of truffle mycelia previously established in soil or to changes generated in soil fungal community. To assess this, we used real-time PCR to quantify black truffle extraradical mycelium during two years after nests installation. We also characterized the fungal community via high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the ITS region of rRNA genes. We found that neither the abundance of truffle mycelium in nests nor in the soil-nest interphase was higher than in the bulk soil, which indicates that nests do not improve mycelial growth. The fungal community in nests showed lower richness and Shannon index and was compositionally different from that of soil, which suggests that nests may act as an open niche for fungal colonization that facilitates truffle fruiting. The ectomycorrhizal fungal community showed lower richness in nests. However, no negative relationships between amount of truffle mycelium and reads of other ectomycorrhizal fungi were found, thus countering the hypothesis that ectomycorrhizal competition plays a role in the nest effect.
Book
Full-text available
Wild edible fungi are collected for food and to earn money in more than 80 countries. There is a huge diversity of different types, from truffles to milk-caps, chanterelles to termite mushrooms, with more than 1100 species recorded during the preparation of this book. A small group of species are of economic importance in terms of exports, but the wider significance of wild edible fungi lies with their extensive subsistence uses in developing countries. They provide a notable contribution to diet in central and southern Africa during the months of the year when the supply of food is often perilously low. Elsewhere they are a valued and valuable addition to diets of rural people. Commercial harvesting is an important business in countries such as Zimbabwe, Turkey, Poland, the USA, North Korea and Bhutan. The export trade is driven by a strong and expanding demand from Europe and Japan and is predominantly from poor to rich countries. This is good for local businesses and collectors, providing important cash income that pays for children to go to school and helps to reduce poverty in areas where the options for earning money are limited. Local markets around the world reveal a widespread though smaller individual trade in an extensive range of species. Though difficult to measure compared to the more visible export of wild edible fungi, local trade is of considerable value to collectors and increases the supply of food to many areas of weak food security. Collection and consumption within countries varies from the extensive and intensive patterns of China to more restricted use by indigenous people in South America. Substantial quantities are eaten through personal collections that may go unrecorded and their contribution to diet is substantially higher than previously indicated. The nutritional value of wild edible fungi should not be under-estimated: they are of comparable value to many vegetables and in notable cases have a higher food value. Wild edible fungi play an important ecological role. Many of the leading species live symbiotically with trees and this mycorrhizal association sustains the growth of native forests and commercial plantations in temperate and tropical zones. The saprobic wild edible fungi, though less important in terms of volumes collected and money earned from local sales, are important in nutrient recycling. The saprobic species are the basis for the hugely valuable global business in cultivated mushrooms, currently valued at around US$23 billion each year. This is an increasing source of income for small-scale enterprises in developing countries. Wild edible fungi are one of a number of non-wood forest products (NWFP) that have increased in importance as logging bans and a reduction in wood-based forestry activities have declined. They are one of the most valuable NWFP with much potential for expansion of trade, but there are also challenges in the integration of their management and sustainable production as part of multiple use forests. There are concerns about the impact of excessive harvesting which require better data on yields and productivity and a closer examination of collectors and local practices. Closer cooperation between forest managers and those using wild edible fungi is needed and suggestions are made on how this might be achieved. There is a strong emphasis on subsistence uses of wild edible fungi and their importance to rural people in developing countries though this is an area where there are still significant gaps in information. There is also significant commercial harvesting in developed countries, such as the USA and Canada and in the emerging economies of eastern Europe, for example Poland and Serbia. However, countries in the North are of greater significance to wild edible fungi as a destination for exports and as a source of scientific expertise, especially in mycology (the study of fungi). This scientific expertise is increasingly being applied to help achieve the major development goals which include poverty alleviation and sustainable use of natural resources. Real progress has been and continues to be made in the roles that wild edible fungi contribute towards these goals.
Article
Truffles, venerated among the world's culinary delicacies, are the reproductive structures of various ascomycetous fungi. Research on truffle cultivation began in the mid 1800's and eventually led to the discovery of ectomycorrhizae in 1885. However, it was not until the late 1970's that truffles were harvested in French and Italian truffle orchards (truffières) that had been established with artificially inoculated seedlings. Despite this success, the majority of black truffles and all other species of truffles are collected from natural areas rather than from artificial truffières. The truffle species most commonly and successfully cultivated is Tuber melanosporum, the famous "French" or Périgord black truffle. Its hosts include many tree species, but the trees most frequently inoculated are Corylus avellana, Ostya carpinifolia and Quercus spp. T. melanosporum production in artificially established orchards seldom exceed 40 kg/ha but there are instances of yields greater than 100 kg/ha. In Europe, wholesale prices are around US300 to US450 per kg although elsewhere prices can be much higher. In New Zealand, for example, wholesale prices for grade 1 truffles produced out-of-season and shipped to the Northern Hemisphere are currently US1450 per kg. Truffles can appear as early as three years after planting but full production typically requires 10 to 20 years. Although most truffières outside of Europe are still young, several have begun producing and some show highly promising results. However, contamination of truffières by other competing ectomycorrhizal fungi and inadequate knowledge of their ecological requirements pose formidable problems for researchers working to optimize production of the Périgord black truffle and cultivate other Tuber species.