Abstract
The accepted advice when establishing a plantation of <em>Tuber aestivum</em> syn. <em>uncinatum</em> is that young inoculated trees should be planted on calcareous soils with a naturally high pH level. When a site is employed that has a naturally low pH level, lime is often applied to raise the pH to a considered ideal level of c.7.5. However, this may not be the correct approach. Here we present data from 33 data points taken from commercial truffle orchards in England, UK. Soil pH is correlated to <em>Tuber aestivum</em> syn. <em>uncinatum</em> mycorrhiza survivorship and development. The optimal observed pH was 7.51 but the actual optimal pH for cultivation may be higher. Sub optimal pH levels lead to a reduction of <em>Tuber aestivum</em> syn. <em>uncinatum</em> mycorrhiza. This reduction is not permanent and mycorrhization levels may be improved within a 12 month period by amending the soil pH. The importance of understanding the interaction of pH with other variables and the results in relation truffle cultivation are discussed.
Highlights
Mycorrhizal fungi are those that form a symbiotic association with the roots of a vascular plant host and such species incorporate some of the most widely revered and economically important of all edible fungi species
This relationship was highly significant with 29.7% of mycorrhizal variation between sites being attributed to soil pH levels (R2 = 0.2969, p
Our observations that Mycorrhization levels within commercial orchards are higher at higher pH levels, up to an observed pH level of 7.52 is consistent with the known sensitivity of fungi to pH
Summary
Mycorrhizal fungi are those that form a symbiotic association with the roots of a vascular plant host and such species incorporate some of the most widely revered and economically important of all edible fungi species. The consumer demand for many of these edible species leads to high prices paid for fruiting bodies and of all the mycorrhizal species, the genus Tuber hold the most prestige and highest value per kg. Cultivation involves producing tree saplings with the target Tuber spp. growing on the root system and planting these trees into carefully prepared soils. This approach can be very successful and today it is estimated that over 90% of all the fresh Tuber melanosporum produced in France originates from. Thomas inoculated trees that have been cultivated (Gerard Chevalier, personal communication September 27, 2012)
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