desert truffles
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2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 605-618
Author(s):  
Boufeldja Wahiba ◽  
Hadef Khawla Zahra

Edible fungal species like desert truffles are often considered a healthy food source, contributing to high antioxidant and antimicrobial effects which have been used as functional foods for health promotion and disease prevention, and as treatments for a variety of diseases since antiquity. The use of desert truffles in traditional medicine has led to modern scientific investigation into their bioactive properties. This study is part of this perspective and consists of doing in a first time the determination of the nutritional value of Terfezia boudieri harvested from North-western of Algeria, Secondly, we have evalu-ated the antioxidant capacity using two complementary test systems, name-ly DPPH free radical scavenging and iron reduction (FRAP) , and finely the antimicrobial properties were screened against seventeen Gram positive and Gram negative pathogenic bacterial strains; and two strains of yeast using agar well diffusion method. The quantitative estimate of nutritional value shows that T. boudieri showed a preponderance of proteins and minerals with12.57 ± 0.13 and 15 ± 3g / 100g dry weight respectively; In addition, the methanolic extract of the ascocarps contains a high content of total phenols estimated at 44.68 ± 0.22 mg GAE / g, vitamin c and carotenoids are also present in large quantities. The methanolic extract has good capacity re-duction with iron. The free radical scavenging capacity DPPH is very inte-resting with an IC50 = 0.30 mg / ml; this last remains greater than the radical trapping capacity DPPH of ascorbic acid, whose IC50 = 0.08 mg / ml. Results of antimicrobial activity in particular against Gram (+) bacteria, the diameter of which varies from 10 ± 0.01 to 30 ± 0.57 mm where Bacillus subtilis ap-pears to be the most sensitive. On the other hand, they have moderate activ-ity against Gram (-) bacteria where Enterobacter cleacae, and Actinobacter baumannii, are the only Gram (-) bacteria that show hyper-sensitivity, our methanolic extract did not show anticandidal activity against Candida albi-cans. Therefore, the current results have demonstrated that this mushroom is nutritious and contain multiple antioxidants and has confirmed that desert truffle extracts have antimicrobial properties that are effective against com-mon pathogens that cause disease in humans, which can be further exploit-ed for clinical use.


MycoKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Celeste Santos-Silva ◽  
Rogério Louro ◽  
Bruno Natário ◽  
Tânia Nobre

Developing below the soil surface desert, truffles are hard to find. Within Terfezia genus, at least 18 species are described and many are endemic to the Mediterranean basin. Ecological and geographic information are key factors for species diagnosis, and so far Terfezia species are believed to be linked to either acidic or basic soils or to specific plant hosts. Thus, we have looked at Terfezia diversity within a relatively homogeneous geographical area in Portugal that is suitable for these species and that covered different soils and different dominant host species. We analyzed the observed intraspecific variability within the context of species ecological preferences (e. g. edaphic and putative host). One of our major findings was the discovery of T. grisea in acid soils in association with Tuberaria guttata, a puzzling information since, until now, this species was only found in alkaline soils. We also report on the linkage of different Terfezia lineages within species and ecologic parameters such as soil texture, soil pH and plant host. Additionally, by placing the collected specimens on the most recent genus phylogeny based on the ITS region, we also updated the number of known Terfezia species occurring in Portugal from three to ten. Terfezia dunensis is here reported for the first time for Portugal. Overall, our results show that the exploration of undersampled sites reveals itself as a good strategy to disclose unknown aspects of desert truffle diversity and ecology. These aspects are of prime importance when considering the economic value of the desert truffles for rural populations in the Mediterranean basin.


2021 ◽  
pp. 109-116
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ahmed Emhmed

Truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi that grow symbiotically with several trees. Truffles are highly valued edible mycorrhizae fungi in economic and gastronomic terms. Desert truffles have been traditionally used as food in Libya. The rotting of truffle due to environmental factors is very common in Libya. The mechanism of truffle rot is complex and attributed mainly due to the infection with fungi, followed by bacteria. In order to document and highlight the rotting of Libyan Desert truffle phenomenon, the existence of microorganisms in the infected fruit body of Tirmania truffles has been investigated. The investigations showed changes in physical characteristics such as color, hardness, and humidity of the studied truffle samples. Also, the results showed a diversity of pathogens involved in the deterioration of truffle includes bacteria (Bacillus pumilus, Citrobacteryoungea), saprophytic fungi (Fusarium solani, Alternariachlamydosporia, and Rhizopusstolonifer). This study concluded the importance of studying microbial flora living in truffle and their environment. Keywords: Libyan Desert truffle; Tirmania; Rotting; Pathogens


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1462
Author(s):  
Asuncion Morte ◽  
Varda Kagan-Zur ◽  
Alfonso Navarro-Ródenas ◽  
Yaron Sitrit

Desert truffles are edible hypogeous (forming fruit bodies below ground) fungi that grow in semi-arid and arid areas. They are highly valued for both their culinary and medicinal properties in the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and the Gulf areas. Desert truffles form mycorrhizae mostly with plants belonging to the Cistaceae family, mainly with Helianthemum species. These truffles are still, usually, collected from the wild, but loss of habitats due to urbanization, desertification, intensive agriculture and global warming, along with an urgent need to develop new crops adapted to arid conditions, are currently hastening efforts towards their domestication. Here, we sum up the successful research leading to cultivation of this crop, based on plots that were established in sandy to silt soils with high pH values and low mineral contents. We report suitable methods for production of mycorrhized seedlings and preferred planting methods. We found that under natural conditions yields are affected by water availability, so irrigation regimes to ensure good yields were sought. Although good yields were indeed obtained in some years, fluctuations in yields over the years were significant; the reasons for this are not entirely clear and are currently under study. This crop is particularly well suited to relatively marginal conditions but prospects for establishment of desert truffles as a niche crop for arid and semi-arid areas depend on further improvements in yields.


LWT ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 111965
Author(s):  
Reham S. Darwish ◽  
Eman Shawky ◽  
Khallad M. Nassar ◽  
Ramez M. Rashad ElSayed ◽  
Dalia E. Hussein ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohra Fortas ◽  
Soulef Dib-Bellahouel ◽  
Gérard Chevalier

Abstract This first study focuses on geographical distribution of desert truffles in Algeria, their diversity and their ecological requirements during growing seasons according to field surveys carried out during thirty years (1986–2016). Investigations in 61 productive sites of desert truffles spread over several bioclimatic areas revealed the presence of nine species to genera Terfezia, Tirmania and Picoa and their host plants Helianthemum spp. This study complements our earlier work on characterization of Terfezia and Picoa samples harvested throughout Algeria by macro-and micromorphological studies and by molecular phylogeny. Pedoclimatic factors were evaluated, host plants species were identified and mycorrhizal relationships of these fungi species under field conditions were examined. Results revealed that good natural yield desert truffles species is closely linked to intensity and distribution of rainfall, the temperature, frequency of storms during ascomata growing seasons. Nine desert truffles species grow on sandy loam soil and form with annual or perennial Helianthemum spp. endomycorrhizae on calcareous soil and also ectomycorrhizae without mantle on acidic soil in Helianthemum guttatum..


LWT ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 111046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Farag ◽  
Doaa Fathi ◽  
Samir Shamma ◽  
Mohamed Sherif A. Shawkat ◽  
Sohir M. Shalabi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ghassab M. Al-Mazaideh ◽  
Farhan K. Al-Swailmi ◽  
Mujeeb Ur Rehman Parrey

The research investigated the possible antifungal behavior of forty-four truffles bioactive compounds conducted to investigate the interaction modes of these inhibitors against three different types of the fungal proteins: Candida albicans, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Ganoderma microsporum. The applied method in contrast to ketoconazole and griseofulvin revealed the possible anti-fungal agents ergosterol, Catechin gallate and rutin. With respect to Candida Albicans, the maximum possible binding energy was ergosterol (-11.75 Kcal/mol), followed then by catechin gallate (-11.46 Kcal/mol) then rutin (-9.90 Kcal/mol). Compared to Blastomyces, Ganoderma microsporum fungal protein with most negative binding energy among other components of the truffle is found to be of a relatively similar behavior for the same compounds. Ergosterol demonstrated the highest binding capacity for dermatitidis, while rutin scored the lowest against Ganoderma microsporum. The possible anti-fungal components of desert truffle have yet to be studied in vitro in the future.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan ◽  
Sardar Hussain ◽  
Janardhana Papayya Balakrishna ◽  
Lavina Dhawale ◽  
Malathi Kullappan ◽  
...  

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