Ectomycorrhizal communities above and below ground and truffle productivity in a Tuber aestivum orchard
2014
Elena Salerni | Maria D'Aguanno | Pamela Leonardi | Claudia Perini
<p><em>Aim of study</em>: The diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities (EM) above (EMFb) and below (EMMt) ground associated with <em>Quercus cerris </em>L., <em>Q. pubescens </em>Willd., and <em>Pinus nigra </em>J.F.Arnold was analyzed.</p><p><em>Area of study</em>: A 20 year-old orchard that produces <em>Tuber aestivum </em>truffles, located a few kilometers from Chiusi della Verna (latitude 43° 41’ 53’’; longitude 11° 56’ 9’’) in Tuscany (central Italy) was observed.</p><p><em>Material and Methods</em>: This investigation combined analyses of EMFb, EMMt, <em>T. aestivum </em>productivity, different host trees, and statistical data on community ecology.</p><p><em>Main results</em>: The EM communities showed high species richness and differed slightly in relation to both the host tree and their location above or below ground, providing frequent findings of <em>Tricholoma </em>and <em>Tomentella</em>, respectively. Positive correlations were found between the number of truffles and host trees, and between the weight and number of truffles and EMFb.</p><p><em>Research highlights</em>: Mycorrhizal fungi and truffle production are not in competition.</p><p><strong>Key words: </strong>Fungal communities; fruiting bodies; morphotypes; <em>Tuber aestivum; </em>competition; Italy.</p>
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