Mycorrhizae of Asian black truffles, Tuber himalayense and T. indicum

Abstract

With the introduction, to Europe. of Asian black truffles, sold like Tuber melanosporum, is becoming necessary to get detailed information about their taxonomy and to characterize their mycorrhizae so to distinguish them from those of the European black truffles.In the present research, mycorrhizae of 7uber himalayense and T. indicum, obtained by the inoculation of Quercus pubescens seedlings with a sporal suspension of the single ascocarps, have been described and characterized.The two mycorrhizal types are very similar and only sometimes can slight differences be observed.From a first comparison of these two mycorrhizal types with those of the European black truffles they appear to have a higher affinity with 7. melanosporum than T. aestivum and their related species.