Desert truffles of the North Algerian Sahara: Diversity and bioecology

Lys Bradai,Samia Bissati,Haroun Chenchouni

doi:10.9755/ejfa.v26i5.16520

Lys Bradai, Samia Bissati + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.v26i5.16520

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Abstract

This study reports on the bio-ecology of desert truffles collected from the Northern Algerian Sahara. It aims focused on (i) the identification of desert truffle species with a morphometric characterization, (ii) the determination of their geographical distribution, and (iii) the description of the edaphic, climatic and geomorphological characteristics of their natural habitat. The harvest of 78 truffle fruiting bodies from seven different locations resulted in the identification of three species of the family Pezizaceae: Terfezia arenaria (Moris) Trappe, Terfezia claveryi Chatin and Tirmania nivea (Desf.) Trappe. These hypogeous ascomycetes live in mycorrhizal association with Helianthemum lippii (Cistaceae). Desert truffles grow in heterogeneous soils of sandy texture, moderately calcareous (10.19 ± 1.37%), slightly alkaline (7.87 ± 0.22), with low organic matter (0.86 ± 0.1%) and slight phosphorus contents. The development of desert truffles is closely linked with high rainfall occurring during fall and/or winter. The truffles colonize desert depressions Dayas and beds of Wadis, since these geomorphological zones accumulate rainwater, which promotes the growth of both truffles and its host–plant.

Highlights

Desert truffles are hypogeous ascomycetes in Mediterranean countries consisting of genera such as Terfezia, Delastria, Mattirolomyces, Picoa, and Tirmania (Trappe, 1979; Kovács and Trappe, 2014)
The current study focuses on identification and morphological characterization of edible species of desert truffles found in Northern Algerian Sahara in relation with their distributional habitats
Identification and distribution of truffle species Following the sampling of seven sites at the Northern Algerian Sahara during the period 2006 to 2012, a total of 78 fresh fruiting bodies of truffles were collected

Summary

Introduction

Desert truffles are hypogeous ascomycetes in Mediterranean countries consisting of genera such as Terfezia, Delastria, Mattirolomyces, Picoa, and Tirmania (Trappe, 1979; Kovács and Trappe, 2014). Lyès Bradai Department of Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences and Sciences of Earth and Universe, University Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria Besides their wide distribution, the order Pezizales predominates in arid and semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean basin and adjacent areas, including North Africa (Malençon, 1973; Trappe, 1979; Khabar et al, 2001; Slama et al, 2006), the Middle East (Al-Ruqaie, 2002; Mandeel and Al-Laith, 2007), Southern Europe (Janex-Favre et al, 1988; Honrubia et al, 1992; Ławrynowicz et al, 1997; Moreno et al, 2002) and the Kalahari Desert (Díez et al, 2002; Mandeel and AlLaith, 2007; Trappe et al, 2008a, 2014b). Other genera of desert truffles occur in Africa, Australia and North America (Kovács and Trappe, 2014)

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