Truffle Market Evolution: An Application of the Delphi Method

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the current situation of the truffle sector in the main producing countries of the Mediterranean area. Additionally, we identified the challenges for the future and the priority actions to develop the truffle sector in the region. Methods: We used a Delphi process approach, and we selected a total of 17 expert panelists in different positions within the supply chain of the target countries (Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece). Results: The results obtained allowed us to have a complete description of the current truffle supply chain. We confirmed an evolution of the sector due to the cultivation success of several Tuber species. The maturity of the sector has produced shifts in the roles that form the traditional truffle supply chain operators. We confirmed the trend of a decrease of collectors that hunt truffles in the wild and sell to small travelling buyers, whilst truffle hunters that collect for farmers and specialty wholesalers are emerging. However, a trend of truffle price decrease in the last few years has alerted the sector. Conclusions: As production increases due to truffle cultivation, it will be necessary to promote truffle consumption. We identified actions to develop the truffle sector: (a) strengthen the link between truffles, tourism, and gastronomy; (b) increase the effort at European level for the recognition of truffle production, helping to develop truffle culture and marketing; (c) increase the awareness and consumption of truffles among consumers; and (d) develop tourism workshops for truffle farmers.

New Species of Whitish Truffle, Tuber Lithocarpii Sp. Nov., Belonging to the Puberulum Clade, Discovered Under Lithocarpus Konishii in Taiwan

BackgroundDiversity of Tuber species in Taiwan is still poorly known, with only T. formosanum form Melanosporum clade, T. furfuraceum from Rufum clade and T. elevatireticulatum from Puberulum clade were recorded in recent 30 years. During our survey of hypogenous fungi in Taiwan, another whitish truffle was collected from roots of Lithocarpus konishii along a forest road in southern Taiwan in January 2018.ResultsThe whitish truffle is herein described as a new species Tuber lithocarpii, which is appeared to differ from most closely related taxon by its small ascomata size, reddish-brown gleba color, small and globose ascospores size with large pentagonal or irregular marbled reticulated ornamentation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. lithocarpii formed a monophyletic clade within Puberulum clade and placed sister to the Thai whitish truffle T.thailandicum with strong branching support.ConclusionsTuber lithocarpii, which is appeared to differ from the previous recorded species based on morphological and phylogenetic evidences. This is an important and encouraging discovery in Taiwan as to facilitate cognition of Asian truffles, the following development of biotechnological applications and truffle cultivation of native species.

Morphological Characterization of the In Vitro Mycorrhizae Formed between Four Terfezia Species (Pezizaceae) with Cistus salviifolius and Cistus ladanifer—Towards Desert Truffles Production in Acid Soils

Terfezia species are obligate symbiotic partners of several xerophytic host plants, mainly belonging to the Cistaceae. Yet, their mycorrhizal associations with members of the genus Cistus remain poorly characterized and their potential application in desert truffle cultivation remains unexplored. This work provides the first anatomic descriptions of the mycorrhizae formed in vitro by four Terfezia species (i.e., T. arenaria; T. extremadurensis; T. fanfani, T. pini) with C. ladanifer and C. salviifolius, two of the most widespread and common Cistus species in acidic soils. All the tested associations resulted in the formation of ectomycorrhizae with well-developed Hartig net, but with a varying degree of mantle development. Our results also demonstrate that all the experimented Terfezia-Cistus combinations expressed high mycorrhization rates. Moreover, the present work shows that C. salviifolius and C. ladanifer are suitable plant hosts for Terfezia species, including some that are, to date, known to be only associated with annual herbs or tree species. This new evidence might aid in broadening the number of situations whereby Terfezia spp. can be cultivated in acid soils.

Predicted climate change will increase the truffle cultivation potential in central Europe

Climate change affects the distribution of many species, including Burgundy and Périgord truffles in central and southern Europe, respectively. The cultivation potential of these high-prized cash crops under future warming, however, remains highly uncertain. Here we perform a literature review to define the ecological requirements for the growth of both truffle species. This information is used to develop niche models, and to estimate their cultivation potential in the Czech Republic under current (2020) and future (2050) climate conditions. The Burgundy truffle is already highly suitable for cultivation on ~ 14% of agricultural land in the Czech Republic (8486 km2), whereas only ~ 8% of the warmest part of southern Moravia are currently characterised by a low suitability for Périgord truffles (6418 km2). Though rising temperatures under RCP8.5 will reduce the highly suitable cultivation areas by 7%, the 250 km2 (3%) expansion under low-emission scenarios will stimulate Burgundy truffles to benefit from future warming. Doubling the moderate and expanding the highly suitable land by 352 km2 in 2050, the overall cultivation potential for Périgord truffles will rise substantially. Our findings suggest that Burgundy and Périgord truffles could become important high-value crops for many regions in central Europe with alkaline soils. Although associated with uncertainty, long-term investments in truffle cultivation could generate a wide range of ecological and economic benefits.

Selection of the Most Suitable Tree Species for Truffle Cultivation Using Fuzzy VIKOR and Fuzzy AHP

Truffle cultivation is considered to be a very profitable agricultural activity; it is however strongly demanding, with a highly uncertain yield. The selection of an appropriate site and host tree species is challenging, because truffles have very specific edaphoclimatic and topographic requirements. The aim of this article is to select the optimum tree species for truffle cultivation in Greece, by examining the most common host tree species under criteria that affect truffle productivity, thus pointing to new paths for forest policy planning. A combination of fuzzy AHP and fuzzy VIKOR was applied in two different scenarios, using equal and different criteria weights. Oak, hornbeam and pine trees were identified as the most suitable tree species for truffle cultivation in Greece. The findings could help mitigate uncertainty and improve productivity. They are also useful in Forest Policy planning, offering incentives for the reforestation of less favoured areas and the conversion of marginal or abandoned agricultural land.

Truffle cultivation in the south of France: technical progress and prospects

Antecedentes: Fue más fácil producir la trufa negra Tuber melanosporum a fines del siglo XIX y principios del XX que hoy en día. Las razones de su abundancia en este período fueron los paisajes abiertos con una población rural abundante. La Primera Guerra Mundial influyó conspicuamente en el declive de la producción de trufas. Fue a principios de la década de 1970 cuando se inició el cultivo de la trufa.Objetivo: Revisar los principales métodos utilizados históricamente en el cultivo de la trufa negra.Resultados y conclusión: La invención de las plantas micorrizadas diseminada desde 1973 y las numerosas investigaciones y experimentos realizados desde entonces han permitido mantener producciones de trufas las cuales han aumentado considerablemente. Se han experimentado diferentes modelos de cultivo de trufas a partir de la invención de las plantas micorrizadas. Cuatro factores principales están involucrados en la producción de trufa: 1) una planta bien micorrizada, 2) un suelo calcáreo, aireado y drenaje con buena actividad biológica, 3) un clima templado, y 4) técnicas de cultivo apropiadas. Los modelos de cultivo de trufas se han utilizado para comparar estos aspectos técnicos. La persistencia de limitaciones en el cultivo de las trufas justifica la continuidad del estudio de las características de las plantaciones de trufas en su dinámica de cultivo.

ECOLOGICAL AND GENETIC ADVANCES IN THE CULTIVATION OF TUBER SPP.

Recent advances on the ecology and genetics of true truffles (Tuber spp.) are reported and their impact on truffle cultivation is discussed. New insights have been gained on truffle soil ecology and interrelationships of truffles with associated microorganisms in the soil. For instance, some bacteria seem to play a key role in truffle fruiting body formation and maturation. However, the most important advance in truffle genetics over the past 20 years has been the sequencing of the Tuber melanosporum genome and the discovery that truffles, like other Pezizalean fungi, are heterothallic. This finding has had a significant impact on research on truffles and many studies have been devoted to better understanding the distribution of the mating types in soil in natural and cultivated truffières. The characterization of the mating type idiomorphs of several Tuber species has led to the possibility of selecting mycelial strains for truffle cultivation in particular sites.