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Saprotrophic versus symbiotic strategy during truffle ascocarp development under holm oak. A response based on 13C and 15N natural abundance

Stratégie saprophyte ou symbiotique durant le développement d’ascocarpes de truffes dans une truffière à chêne vert. Une réponse basée sur l’abondance naturelle du 13C et du 15N

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Abstract

  • • The development of truffles in the soil is not well understood. It is not known if a direct transfer of carbohydrates takes place between the host tree and the developing ascocarps through ectomycorrhizal structures or whether sporophores become independent from their hosts after several weeks or months and are able to use dead host tissues or soil organic matter as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources.

  • • To study saprophytic or symbiotic capacities of truffle ascocarps the natural abundance of 15N and 13C in foliage, wood, fine roots, mycorrhizae, fungal sporophores and soil were determined in a truffle orchard.

  • • The processes of carbon and nitrogen allocation remained unchanged during the entire period of ascocarp development of Tuber melanosporum. From 13C and 15N natural abundance measurements, T. melanosporum, T. brumale and T. rufum did not exhibit saprotophic strategy during ascocarp development, which is contradictory to common statements found in handbooks regarding truffle cultivation.

Résumé

  • • Le développement des truffes dans le sol n’est pas encore bien compris. Les connaissances actuelles ne nous permettent pas de savoir s’il existe un transfert direct de sucres entre l’arbre hôte et les ascocarpes en développement via les structures ectomycorhiziennes, ou si les ascocarpes utilisent le carbone et l’azote directement issu de la matière organique du sol.

  • • Nous avons mesuré l’abondance naturelle du 15N et du 13C dans le sol, les feuilles, les mycorhizes, le bois et les carpophores d’une truffière naturelle à chêne vert afin de déterminer la stratégie de la nutrition carbonée des ascocarpes.

  • • Les processus d’allocation du carbone et de l’azote restent identiques pendant toute la phase de développement des ascocarpes de Tuber melanosporum. De ces mesures d’abondance naturelle du 15N et du 13C, il apparaît que T. melanosporum, T. brumale et T. rufum ne développent pas de stratégie saprophytique pendant le développement des ascocarpes, ce qui est en contradiction avec les idées habituellement véhiculées par les manuels de trufficulture

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Zeller, B., Bréchet, C., Maurice, JP. et al. Saprotrophic versus symbiotic strategy during truffle ascocarp development under holm oak. A response based on 13C and 15N natural abundance. Ann. For. Sci. 65, 607 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008037

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008037

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