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Abstract
Aim of study: Tuber aestivum is the most widespread edible truffle, with increasing commercial interest. This species can produce carpophores with conifer hosts, in contrast with the inability of
Pinus spp. to induce fruiting in other truffle species such as
Tuber melanosporum. Therefore the objective is to compare the characteristics and carpophore production of
T. aestivum brûlés associated with
Pinus spp. versus
Quercus spp.
Area of study: We studied the natural habitats of
T. aestivum in the Alto Tajo Nature Reserve in central Spain.
Material and methods: During 5 years, we monitored the production of carpophores and brûlé size of 145
T. aestivum brûlés associated with
Pinus nigra subsp.
salzmanniand
P. sylvestris and
Quercus ilex subsp.
ballota and
Q. faginea hosts. Statistical treatment was performed using the Statistica Program v. 6.
Main results: The size of brûlés associated with
Pinus was significantly smaller than that of brûlés associated with
Quercus. However, carpophore production per brûlé, and especially for brûlés of similar size, was greater when the host plant was a pine. After accounting for brûlé size, the production of brûlés associated with
Pinus spp. was 2.23 (95% CI, between 1.35 and 3.69) and 1.61 (95% CI, between 1.02 and 2.54) times greater than the production of brûlés associated with
Quercus faginea and
Q. ilex subsp.
ballota, respectively.
Research highlights: The considerable ability of
Pinus nigra subsp.
salzmanni and
P. sylvestris to form effective brûlés and to produce carpophores of
Tuber aestivum in natural conditions was clearly demonstrated, and suggest that those species can be of use in the culture of
T. aestivum.
Citation
Garcia-Montero, Luis G.; Moreno, Domingo; Monleon, Vicente J.; Arredondo-Ruiz, Fernando. 2014. Natural production of Tuber aestivum in central Spain:
Pinus spp. versus
Quercus spp. brûlés. Forest Systems. 23(2): 394-399. 7 p.
