Abstract
Hungary has outstanding environment for natural truffle production in some regions including plain and hilly areas. The most famous of all the natural summer truffle (<em>Tuber aestivum</em> Vittad.) habitats is the commonly called Jászság region. This area is situated in the middle of Hungary, between river Danube and Tisza. The flatland area is basically covered by river alluviums with main soils of chernozems, fluvisols, solonchaks and arenosols. Climate of the region is typically continental: warm and dry summers and cold winters vary. The area is traditionally of agricultural use, although strong afforestation was made in the late 1950’s. The English oak (<em>Quercus robur</em> L.) populations planted at that time gave a basis for current excellent truffle production. Nowadays the region has proved to be the best natural summer truffle (<em>T. aestivum</em>) producing area of Hungary with early season opening (June) and high quality truffles as early as August. In the research the best truffle producing forest blocks were selected for ecological investigation. Results of the detailed site description showed uniform climate characteristics and dominance of English oak (<em>Q. robur</em>) or mixed English oak-Turkey oak (<em>Quercus cerris</em> L.) forests. Soil types revealed differences from earlier findings: dominance of gleysols and water affected chernozems was declared. Soil chemical parameters are in accordance with literature data: pH, organic matter and active carbonate content of the examined soils fall within the range indicated as the requirement of <em>T. aestivum</em>.
Highlights
Consumption of truffles originates from ancient times in certain areas of the Mediterranean region
Due to its wide tolerance toward ecological factors, it is common from Sweden to Spain, from the United Kingdom to Russia (Ceruti et al 2003; Granetti et al 2005; Tulasne 1851; Wedén, Danell 2001)
All the examined natural truffle habitats is covered by English oak (Q. robur) or mixed English oak-Turkey oak (Q. cerris) forests
Summary
Consumption of truffles originates from ancient times in certain areas of the Mediterranean region. Summer truffle (Tuber aestivum), referred Burgundy truffle considered as the third most important one in Europe and probably the most common truffle of marketable species (Hall et al 2007).It is a widespread truffle species in Europe. Due to its wide tolerance toward ecological factors, it is common from Sweden to Spain, from the United Kingdom to Russia (Ceruti et al 2003; Granetti et al 2005; Tulasne 1851; Wedén, Danell 2001). In Central Europe Hungary plays an important role in the truffle market with considerable yield of T. aestivum (Gógán et al 2007a). Due to its wide tolerance toward environmental factors, the species is widespread in the country (Bratek 2005). Soil parameters can limit its distribution to soils rich in organic matter with variable lime content and neutral or lightly basic pH (Gógán et al 2007b; Bratek 2005, 2008)
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