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Taxonomy, Biology and Ecology of Tuber macrosporum Vittad. and Tuber mesentericum Vittad.

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True Truffle (Tuber spp.) in the World

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 47))

Abstract

Not all the commercial truffles (Tuber sp.) have equal importance in the market. Tuber macrosporum and Tuber mesentericum are considered less valued species, due to the peculiar organoleptic traits and/or the limited amounts collected and available to trade. However, some markets refer them as truffles of promising and increasing value. In this chapter, a revision of the taxonomy, biology and ecology of these two species is reported and discussed using published literature, original data and personal experiences in the field with the main aim to clarify the identity of T. macrosporum and T. mesentericum in the fungal tree of life.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Facchini A, Grebenc T, Gazo J and Marjanovic Z for the provision of part of the T. macrosporum ascomata used in this study. We are grateful to Reilly Wilkinson for the English revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci, Leonardo Baciarelli Falini, Giorgio Marozzi & Domizia Donnini

  2. Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci

  3. Department of Horticulture, Szent István University, Páter Károly str. 1, 2100, Gödöllő, Hungary

    Andrea Gógán Csorbai

  4. Via F.lli Mazzocchi 23, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Edoardo Suriano

  5. Loc. Farné 32, 40042, Lizzano in Belvedere, Bologna, Italy

    Nicola Sitta

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  1. Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci
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  2. Andrea Gógán Csorbai
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  3. Leonardo Baciarelli Falini
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Correspondence to Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Alessandra Zambonelli

  2. Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila , L’Aquila , Italy

    Mirco Iotti

  3. Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes Lab of Excellence ARBRE, INRA, Université de Lorraine, Champenoux, France

    Claude Murat

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Benucci, G.M.N. et al. (2016). Taxonomy, Biology and Ecology of Tuber macrosporum Vittad. and Tuber mesentericum Vittad.. In: Zambonelli, A., Iotti, M., Murat, C. (eds) True Truffle (Tuber spp.) in the World. Soil Biology, vol 47. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31436-5_5

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