Abstract
In Tuber melanosporum cultivation, fruitbody traits are gaining relevance due to their increasing prominence on prices. We investigated the edaphic and temporal patterns of fruitbody traits and characterised the effect of truffle nests (localised peat-based amendment supplemented with T. melanosporum spores) on traits. We monitored fruitbody traits throughout two fruiting seasons in three blocks along a soil gradient. Each trait followed specific edaphic and temporal patterns. The number of fruitbodies per dig and spore maturity followed characteristic within-season trends, whereas fruitbody weight and infestation by truffle beetles were subject to complex interactions among edaphic and temporal variables, suggesting a relevant influence of annual environmental conditions. The application of truffle nests increased fruitbody depth, improved its shape and decreased infestation by truffle beetles. Nests increased the number of fruitbodies per dig, but only in two of the soils, suggesting a relevant role of the bulk soil/substrate interface in fruiting initiation. These results outline a complex scenario, with each trait being differently affected by environmental factors. In this scenario, nests proved to effectively modify several traits, although not always in the desired direction.
Highlights
In Tuber melanosporum cultivation, fruitbody traits are gaining relevance due to their increasing prominence on prices
During fruiting seasons 2016–2017 and 2017–2018, 1865 T. melanosporum FBs were harvested in 1212 digs, with nests accounting for 53% of the FBs harvested and 42% of the digs excavated (Table 1)
Digs excavated in nests remained dominant from mid-November to mid-January, falling to their lowest values from mid-February, a period in which digs excavated in bulk soil became largely dominant
Summary
In Tuber melanosporum cultivation, fruitbody traits are gaining relevance due to their increasing prominence on prices. The number of fruitbodies per dig and spore maturity followed characteristic within-season trends, whereas fruitbody weight and infestation by truffle beetles were subject to complex interactions among edaphic and temporal variables, suggesting a relevant influence of annual environmental conditions. Nests increased the number of fruitbodies per dig, but only in two of the soils, suggesting a relevant role of the bulk soil/substrate interface in fruiting initiation These results outline a complex scenario, with each trait being differently affected by environmental factors. Nests (determined by FB number and size) likely depends on the availability of resources, among which those supplied by the host are fundamental[13] Water, temperature and their effect on soil O2 and CO2 diffusion are key factors for the FB formation in mycorrhizal fungi[9]. One to 1.5 months may be required from the moment adults emerge from the soil until the mycophagous larvae appear[15]
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