• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2006

Certain European truffles including Tuber melanosporum (Perigord black truffle) and T. aestivum(Burgundy truffle), are valuable food commodities, selling for hundreds of dollars per kilogram worldwide. These underground(hypogeous) mushrooms may become profitable agroforestry crops in the south-central United States. Native to Europe, T. melanosporum and T. aestivum are being cultivated to a limited extent and with mixed results in New Zealand and the United States. Tuber species grow mutualistically as ectomycorrhizae with the roots of compatible host trees including white and evergreen oaks(Quercus spp.) and hazels(Corylus spp.). Tuber melanosporum and T. aestivum have environmental requirements compatible with conductive sites in the south central US. Climatic and edaphic conditions for cultivating T. melanosporum are more constraining, but T. melanosporum also commands a much higher price.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2006

Truffles are cultivated by growing seedlings of compatible tree species in pasteurized substrate amended with truffle spores, maintaining the inoculated seedlings in the greenhouse until the mycorrhizal relationship is established and certified, planting the infected seedlings onto appropriate and properly prepared sites, and managing the resulting truffieres (truffle orchards) to maintain the truffle infections and encourage truffle fruiting. Questions remain to be addressed at each step of the process in developing best management practices for truffle cultivation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2007

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• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.527-533
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• 2021

The truffle and ectomycorrhizal roots formed by Tuber sp. were collected from the rhizosphere of Quercus aliena in Korea. The morphological characteristics of the ascoma, and molecular phylogenetic analysis using sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) regions confirmed the distinct morphology of the truffle. This truffle belongs to a monophyletic clade among the other Tuber species in the phylogeny. This study describes the truffle, Tuber koreanum, as a new species reported from Korea.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2022

The Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is an edible fungus and among the most expensive foods worldwide. It is the basis of a multimillion-dollar bio-business. Truffle farming does not exist in Mexico, and no formal studies have been conducted on its culture. This report describes the mycorrhizal synthesis (i.e., artificial union of fungus with host) of T. melanosporum with oak species native to Mexico (Quercus polymorpha, Q. fusiformis, and Q. canbyi). The mycorrhizal association was successful in Q. polymorpha and Q. fusiformis, as confirmed morphologically and using T. melanosporum molecular primers (ITSML/ITS4LNG). The effect of the ectomycorrhizal fungus on host growth (stem diameter) was statistically significant. Illustrations of the study are presented.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

Truffles are the fruiting bodies of ascomycete fungi that form underground. Truffles are globally valued, culturally celebrated as aphrodisiacs, and highly sought-after delicacies in the culinary world. For centuries, naturalists have speculated about their mode of formation, and in cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, many species have been prized as a delectable food source. Truffle fruiting bodies form underground and emit a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Truffle volatiles are believed to have evolved to attract animals that disperse their spores. The main VOCs identified from truffles include sulfur compounds, such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS); in addition, 1-octen-3-ol and 2-methyl-1-propanol have been found in most truffle species. Humans use pigs and dogs trained to detect truffle VOCs in order to find these prized subterranean macrofungi. Truffles have pharmacological potential, but until more reliable cultivation methods become available their high price means they are unlikely to see widespread use as medicinals.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of distribution of mating type (MAT) genes of Tuber indicum in ectomycorhizosphere soils from natural T. indicum-producing areas and cultivated truffle orchards and ascocarp samples from different regions. Quantitative real-time PCR and multiplex PCR were used to weight the copy numbers of MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 in natural truffle soils and cultivated orchard soils. The effect of limestone on the pattern of truffle MAT genes and the correlation between soil properties and the proportion of MAT genes were also assessed. These results indicated that an uneven and nonrandom distribution of MAT genes was common in truffle-producing areas, cultivated truffle orchards, and ascocarps gleba. The competition between the two mating type genes and the expansion of unbalanced distribution was found to be closely related to truffle fructification. Limestone treatments failed to alter the proportion of the two mating type genes in the soil. The content of available phosphorus in soil was significantly correlated with the value of MAT1-1-1/MAT1-2-1 in cultivated and natural ectomycorhizosphere soils. The application of real-time quantitative PCR can provide reference for monitoring the dynamic changes of mating type genes in soil. This study investigates the distributional pattern of T. indicum MAT genes in the ectomycorhizosphere soil and ascocarp gleba from different regions, which may provide a foundation for the cultivation of T. indicum.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2022

Fungi of the genus Tuber are ectomycorrhizal fungi that form a symbiotic relationship mainly with oak and hazel trees. Tuber spp. exhibit a highly selective host plant preference; thus, for cultivation purposes it is important to select an appropriate host plant for successful mycorrhization. In addition, as mycorrhizal characteristics differ according to Tuber spp., it is necessary to understand the differences in mycorrhizae according to the fungal species. Tuber huidongense and Tuber himalayense were recently discovered in Korea; therefore, we used spore suspensions from these two species to inoculate two species of oak trees, Quercus acutissima and Quercus dentata, to compare colonization rates and morphologies of the mycorrhizae. The colonization rates demonstrated that the different Tuber spp. favored different host plant species. In addition, unique morphological and anatomical characteristics were observed for T. huidongense and T. himalayense depending on the host species. These findings can lead to new economically important agricultural activities related to truffle cultivation in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2023

In this study, we examined the ectomycorrhiza (ECM) formed by a species of the genus Tuber, T. koreanum, with two indigenous Korean oak species, Quercus acutissima and Q. dentata. T. koreanum showed a high colonization rate for both oak species, with a higher mean colonization rate observed for Q. acutissima. The mycorrhizal characteristics of T. koreanum were described, revealing distinct morphological and anatomical differences between the ECM formed with the two host plants. This study is significant because it is the first to elucidate ECM formations of T. koreanum in indigenous oak trees. However, further studies are required to differentiate the ECM associations formed by T. koreanum from those of other Tuber species.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2022

Members of the genus Tuber are ectomycorrhizal fungi; this genus includes more than 180 species worldwide. In the present study, the optimal pH, temperature, and medium suitable for the mycelial growth of the Korean truffle, Tuber koreanum, were determined. Mycelium of T. koreanum, isolated from fruiting bodies collected in Korea, was used to investigate the effects of these environmental factors. The results showed that malt extract agar and potato dextrose agar were the most suitable for the mycelial growth of T. koreanum when cultured at a pH of 6.0 at 25 ℃ for 30 days.