Natural production of Tuber aestivum in central Spain: Pinus spp. versus Quercus spp. brûlés

Aim of study : Tuber aestivum is the most widespread edible truffle, with increasing commercial interest. This species can produce carpophores with conifer hosts, in contrast with the inability of Pinus spp. to induce fruiting in other truffle species such as Tuber melanosporum . Therefore the objective is to compare the characteristics and carpophore production of T. aestivum brules associated with Pinus spp. versus Quercus spp. Area of study : We studied the natural habitats of T. aestivum in the Alto Tajo Nature Reserve in central Spain. Material and methods : During 5 years, we monitored the production of carpophores and brule size of 145 T. aestivum brules associated with Pinus nigra subsp. salzmanni and P. sylvestris and Quercus ilex subsp. ballota and Q. faginea hosts. Statistical treatment was performed using the Statistica Program v. 6. Main Results : The size of brules associated with Pinus was significantly smaller than that of brules associated with Quercus. However, carpophore production per brule, and especially for brules of similar size, was greater when the host plant was a pine. After accounting for brule size, the production of brules associated with Pinus spp. was 2.23 (95% CI, between 1.35 and 3.69) and 1.61 (95% CI, between 1.02 and 2.54) times greater than the production of brules associated with Quercus faginea and Q. ilex subsp. ballota , respectively. Research highlights : The considerable ability of Pinus nigra subsp. salzmanni and P. sylvestris to form effective brules and to produce carpophores of Tuber aestivum in natural conditions was clearly demonstrated, and suggest that those species can be of use in the culture of T. aestivum . Key words: Summer truffle; Tuber aestivum ; truffle culture; truffle ecology; Pinus spp.; Quercus spp.