Search Results (109)

Tuber melanosporum, the black truffle, is a fungus of high economic and ecological value, but its underground detection remains a challenge due to the lack of reliable, non-invasive methods. This study presents the development and proof of concept of a portable optoelectronic nose that integrates nine optical sensors and one electrochemical sensor for the in vitro identification of T. melanosporum. The optical sensors use colorimetric and fluorogenic molecular indicators supported on UVM-7, alumina, and silica. Tests were performed with truffles at different depths and in the presence of soil and compost to evaluate the device’s multi-source response. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models showed robust discrimination between soil, compost, and truffles, with an accuracy of 0.91 under most conditions. Detection at 30 cm showed an accuracy of 0.94, confirming the system’s ability to differentiate between sample types. Performance improved in simplified scenarios based on the presence or absence of truffles. Furthermore, the artificial neural network models achieved optimal results in binary classification. Taken together, the results support the system’s potential as an accurate, non-invasive tool with possible application to the agronomic management of truffle orchards. Full article

Valued above all others, the white truffle species (Tuber magnatum Picco) is highly dependent on the forest ecosystem and its underground biology. Despite its economic importance, knowledge of its biology and mycorrhizal symbioses remains limited; moreover, natural yields have sharply declined, and cultivation efforts have produced inconsistent results. This study evaluated various forest and mycorrhizal inoculation techniques to promote T. magnatum mycelium development in three Tuscan sites converted to truffle cultivation, using qPCR analysis. Alongside conventional practices like irrigation, mulching, and tillage, an experimental method with a sterile, spore-inoculated soil barrier was tested to improve host root establishment, enhance mycorrhization, and maintain long-term symbiosis for healthy truffle ecosystems. Soil analyses nine months after planting Quercus robur L. seedlings showed significant differences in Tuber magnatum mycelium abundance across sites and treatments. The MA treatment—mycorrhized seedlings combined with a sterile, inoculated substrate and separation diaphragm—produced the highest mycelial levels, underscoring the importance of initial mycorrhization and soil manipulation. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing forest management and improving truffle cultivation by enhancing mycelial development, a key step toward increasing truffle production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies and has a very high mortality rate. Several studies have shown that obesity and hyperlipidemia are among the factors implicated in the onset of this disease. These factors can be modified through lifestyle changes, and diet plays a crucial role in this context. We evaluated the effects of Tuber borchii (T. borchii) fungal extracts based on experimental evidence showing that some truffles produce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer secondary metabolites. Methods: To this end, we treated human colorectal cancer cells (HCT 116) with various extracts of T. borchii at different time points and concentrations. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that the treatments caused a decrease in cell proliferation due to the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by FACS analyses. The apoptotic pathway was confirmed by the increase in the cleavage of Caspase 3 and Caspase 9. We then investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death, finding increased nuclear localization of p53 and increased expression of its downstream pro-apoptotic genes, PUMA and NOXA. Among the upstream signaling events, we identify an increase in p-ERK1/2, a MAPK member involved in several antiproliferative/pro-apoptotic insults. Full article

Epigenetic DNA modification is a key component of the defense system against invading nucleic acids such as transposons. TET/JBP dioxygenases oxidize 5-methylcytosine and lead to its replacement by cytosine in mammals. Expansion of TET/JBP genes and their association with DNA transposons were previously reported in Basidiomycota fungi. In this study, a thorough bioinformatics investigation of TET/JBP genes revealed that diverse groups of DNA transposons have captured a TET/JBP dioxygenase in three lineages of fungi: Pucciniomycetes (rusts) and Agaricomycetes (mushrooms) in Basidiomycota, and Pezizomycetes (morels and truffles) in Ascomycota. TET/JBP genes encoded by DNA transposons can be classified into three types, designated as PU, AG, and PE here. The PU type is distributed in Pucciniomycetes and encoded by seven different lineages of DNA transposons (Dileera, hAT, Harbinger, IS3EU, EnSpm, ESTA, and Helitron). The AG type is distributed in Agaricomycetes, and encoded by two lineages of DNA transposons (Kyakuja and Zisupton). The PE type is distributed in Pezizomycetes and Agaricomycetes, and encoded by five lineages of DNA transposons (Zisupton, IS3EU, EnSpm, Plavaka, and Helitron). Phylogenetic analysis indicated several transmission events from certain DNA transposon lineage to another. These transposon-encoded TET/JBP dioxygenases likely contribute to the escape of transposons from the methylation-based silencing system in fungi. Full article

Truffles are edible symbiotic hypogeal fungi and highly prized worldwide for their unique aroma and rich nutritional profile. Belonging to the order Pezizales and family Tuberaceae, with the genus Tuber being the most notable, truffles contain a diverse array of bioactive compounds including phenols, terpenoids, polysaccharides, anandamide, fatty acids, and ergosterols. These compounds contribute to a wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anticancer effects. This review comprehensively summarizes current scientific evidence on the biochemical composition, nutritional and aromatic properties, and biological activities of truffles, with special emphasis on their antioxidant and anti-tumor potential. Additionally, factors influencing truffle productivity and quality as well as advanced extraction and storage techniques to preserve bioactivity are discussed, highlighting their potential as valuable functional foods and sources of natural antioxidants. Full article

A significant number of digital marketers use unethical marketing methods that violate Search Engine Optimization guidelines, with the objective of deceiving engines into displaying a specific website as the top result. The practice of fake comments constitutes a violation of Search Engine Optimization policies and is directly impeding market transparency. In addition, the absence of established standards between search engines, evaluation platforms and other trusted agencies makes exploitation easy. Therefore, in order to ensure fair competition among digital businesses, we propose a decentralized system for detecting fake comments, leveraging Blockchain technology for verification. The implementation of smart contracts as self-executing agreements will be achieved by utilizing the Ethereum network and the Truffle Suite. The Ethereum smart contracts will immutably record every comment as a transaction, eliminating any central authority. When a comment is flagged as suspicious, a digital business can trigger a verification request. Stakeholders or reviewers then vote on authenticity. Smart contracts collect these votes and issue a definitive verdict on whether the comment is fake. Full article

The Molise region in Central-Southern Italy is a major contributor to national truffle production, particularly of the highly prized Tuber magnatum Picco, accounting for approximately 40% of the country’s total output and hosting the highest density of truffle harvesters. Despite this, research on the Italian white truffle populations from this area remains limited. Therefore, the primary objective of the present study was to address this knowledge gap by characterizing four T. magnatum Picco populations collected from the municipalities of Agnone, Carovilli, Castel del Giudice, and Pietrabbondante, located in “Alto Molise”, through morphological, genetic, and microbiological investigations. The statistical analyses revealed significant differences in peridium thickness and ascocarp-associated microbiota even though pairwise comparisons did not identify statistically significant differences between specific population pairs. No significant variation was observed in ascocarp weight and maturation degree. Furthermore, the presence of a unique haplotype at the single-locus marker SCAR A21-inf was confirmed in a subset of the analyzed fruiting bodies. Collectively, these findings expand current biological knowledge of the Molise white truffle and provide a foundation for future research aimed at identifying specific provenance markers to discriminate truffle populations at both regional and local scales. Full article

Truffle hunting in the Piedmontese landscapes of Northern Italy is not merely a foraging practice but a deeply embodied and multispecies relationship grounded in intergenerational knowledge, sensory attunement, and emotional connection to forest ecologies. This study draws on qualitative interviews with local truffle hunters (Trifulau) to examine how socio-ecological transformations driven by land privatization, vineyard expansion, monocultural hazelnut plantations, and tourism disrupt these traditional practices. Thematic analysis reveals five dimensions of transformation: ecological estrangement, dispossession and exclusion, erosion of knowledge transmission, commodification and spectacularizing, emotional and ontological loss. Hunters describe a loss of sensory orientation, access to ancestral commons, and a breakdown of the human–dog forest relational web, accompanied by feelings of grief, alienation, and identity erosion. We argue that these changes undermine ecological sustainability and threaten emotional, cultural, and epistemological sustainability. The findings call for a broadened understanding of sustainability, one that recognizes affective, multispecies, and place-based knowledge systems as vital to sustaining cultural landscapes. This study contributes to debates on rural transformation, non-material heritage, and the invisible costs of commodifying traditional ecological practices in globalizing economies. Full article

The success of truffle cultivation is especially dependent on the quality of truffle-mycorrhized seedlings, which are typically produced in nurseries under aseptic conditions to avoid root colonization by undesired ectomycorrhizal fungi. However, such practices may also eliminate beneficial microorganisms that could support truffle symbiosis and improve seedling quality. In this study, twelve endophytic bacterial and fungal strains, isolated from the Tuber melanosporum environment (gleba tissue, mycorrhizae and truffle brûlé), were tested for their effect on T. melanosporum mycorrhization levels in inoculated Quercus ilex seedlings under nursery conditions. Co-inoculation with a strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens significantly enhanced root colonization by T. melanosporum, supporting its potential role as mycorrhizal helper bacterium. In contrast, a strain of Trichoderma harzianum negatively affected mycorrhization. The remaining strains did not show significant effects on seedling mycorrhization or seedling growth. Our findings support the hypothesis that specific bacterial strains associated with truffles can act as mycorrhizal helper bacteria, highlighting the potential for co-inoculation strategies to enhance quality of truffle-inoculated seedlings in nurseries. However, further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions within the mycorrhizosphere that could contribute to improving nursery seedling quality. Full article

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is a cornerstone of ecosystem health, facilitating nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and biodiversity maintenance in trees. Optimizing Pinus armandii–Tuber indicum mycorrhizal synthesis enhances the ecological stability of coniferous forests while supporting high-value truffle cultivation. This study conducted a pot experiment to compare the effects of three root nutrient regulations—Aolu 318S (containing N-P₂O₅-K₂O in a ratio of 15-9-11 (w/w%)), Aolu 328S (11-11-18), and Youguduo (19-19-19)—on the mycorrhizal synthesis of P. armandii–T. indicum. The results showed that root nutrient supplementation significantly improved the seedling crown, plant height, ground diameter, biomass dry weight, and mycorrhizal infection rate of both the control and mycorrhizal seedlings, with the slow-release fertilizers Aolu 318S and 328S outperforming the quick-release fertilizer Youguduo. The suitable substrate composition in this experiment was as follows: pH 6.53–6.86, organic matter content 43.25–43.49 g/kg, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen 89.25–90.3 mg/kg, available phosphorus 83.69–87.32 mg/kg, available potassium 361.5–364.65 mg/kg, exchangeable magnesium 1.17–1.57 mg/kg, and available iron 33.06–37.3 mg/kg. It is recommended to mix the Aolu 318S and 328S solid fertilizers evenly into the substrate, with a recommended dosage of 2 g per plant. These results shed light on the pivotal role of a precise N-P-K ratio regulation in fostering sustainable ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, offering a novel paradigm for integrating nutrient management with mycorrhizal biotechnology to enhance forest restoration efficiency in arid ecosystems. Full article

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) residue from the extraction industry can be dried and mixed with rice bran as media for black truffle solid-state fermentation to enhance reuse and bioactive functions. Different ratios of rice bran (R) and American ginseng residue (G) mixtures were used as solid-state media for 5 weeks of black truffle fermentation, and then their bio-component contents and whitening effects were analyzed. Finally, four drying methods—hot air drying (HA), microwave drying (MW), hot air-assisted radio frequency (HARF) drying, and radio frequency vacuum (RFV) drying—were assessed to optimize drying efficiency for fermented medium. The results showed that using a 3:1 ratio of rice bran and American ginseng residue as the medium increased the crude polysaccharide and flavonoid contents by approximately threefold and enhanced the ginsenoside Rg3 content about twelvefold. Additionally, the 100 µg/mL ethanol extract of the fermented product inhibited 70% of tyrosinase activity and reduced the melanin area on zebrafish embryos by 42.74%. In the drying study, RFV drying R2G1 required only 13 min without exceeding 70 °C, demonstrating superior drying efficiency, temperature control, and low energy consumption. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of black truffle fermentation of solid-state media from rice bran and American ginseng residue mixtures for whitening applications and highlights RFV drying as an efficient method for by-products. Full article

The rhizospheric microbial community plays a crucial role in the growth and ecological adaptation of truffles. Although extensive research has been conducted on bacterial communities in truffle habitats, the spatial variation and functional implications across different regions and soil compartments remain poorly understood in the current literature. In this study, soil bacterial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing across truffle-producing (Tuber sinense) and non-producing sites in Quercus aliena forests in Panzhihua, China. To capture microhabitat-level variation, soils were classified into three compartments: rhizosphere soil tightly adhering to ectomycorrhizal roots (TRS), rhizoplane soil loosely attached to roots (TRE), and bulk soil from truffle zones without visible roots (TBS), with corresponding controls (RS, RE, BS) collected from truffle-free forests. An alpha diversity analysis revealed that truffle-producing soils harbored significantly higher bacterial richness than control soils, while beta diversity indicated more clustered community composition in truffle-associated soils. A taxonomic analysis showed that T. sinense occurrence was associated with enrichment of specific bacterial taxa, including Chloroflexi, Anaeromyxobacteraceae, and Bradyrhizobium, whereas widespread taxa such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidota were more abundant in control soils. To further identify microbial indicators closely associated with truffle presence, we employed random forest modeling, which highlighted Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Bradyrhizobium as key genera distinguishing truffle-associated rhizospheres. These findings suggest that T. sinense may influence the composition of rhizospheric microbial communities, thereby constructing a favorable rhizospheric microenvironment. This work provides new insights into the microbial ecology of T. sinense and lays a foundation for future truffle domestication and cultivation efforts. Full article

The order Pezizales (Ascomycota) consists of cup and truffle fungi growing in a wide range of habitats and geographical zones worldwide, exhibiting diverse nutritional behaviors. In Israel, morphological studies have designated most Pezizales as saprotrophs. We re-screened Pezizales mushrooms collected in northern Israel between 2020–2022 using molecular tools based on DNA sequences of partial large subunit rRNA (28S), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and partial heat shock protein (Hsp90) regions, along with macro images of each freshly collected samples. Trophic mode was determined through available literature and δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N stable isotope analysis along with a quadratic discriminator analysis (QDA) model to predict trophic modes: 112 collections were positively identified with identification of 23 genera; 23 taxa were resolved to the species level, 11 to approximate species, and 15 to the genus level. Helvella was the most species-rich genus; 25 species and species approximations were newly reported for Israel. Further molecular phylogenetic studies are needed to resolve species identity of the Israeli Pezizales. Most Pezizales collections were determined by trophic mode studies to be ectomycorrhizal, with a few saprotrophs. The QDA model yielded several samples with undefined nutritional behavior or a different trophic mode than previously inferred, suggesting that more in-depth study is needed to understand their trophic ecology. This study improves knowledge regarding species diversity, ecology, and evolution of Israeli Pezizales. Full article

Ectomycorrhizal fungi of the genus Tuber (Ascomycota) produce hypogeous ascomata commonly known as truffles. Despite their high ecological and economic importance, a considerable gap of knowledge exists concerning the diversity of Tuber species in the eastern Mediterranean region. In the frame of this study, more than 200 Tuber collections, originating from various regions of Greece, were examined. A new species to science, i.e., Tuber leptodermum, is formally described. Tuber leptodermum is grouped in the Maculatum clade, as revealed by the ITS and LSU rDNA concatenated phylogenetic tree, and appears as sister to T. foetidum. In addition, T. leptodermum exhibits distinct morphoanatomic features: it produces medium-sized, dark-brown ascomata with a thin pseudoparenchymatous peridium, composed of globose-to-angular cells and forms one-to-four-spored asci containing reticulate–alveolate, ellipsoid ascospores with broad meshes. Thirty other phylogenetic species are identified: seven of them (i.e., T. anniae, T. buendiae, T. conchae, T. dryophilum, T. monosporum, T. regianum and T. zambonelliae) constitute new records for the Greek mycobiota, while the presence of five other species is molecularly confirmed for the first time. Moreover, the existence of ten undescribed phylogenetic species is revealed, six of which are reported for the first time in Greece. Several taxonomic and phylogenetic issues and discrepancies in the genus Tuber are discussed in relation to the new findings. Full article

The synthesis and symbiotic mechanisms of truffle ectomycorrhizae have attracted considerable scientific interest in recent decades. Although previous research has successfully identified the symbiotic partners of truffles (Tuber spp.) and characterized their mature morphological features, the dynamic processes involved in truffle ectomycorrhizal formation remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we established an ectomycorrhizal synthesis system using Castanea mollissima seedlings inoculated with Tuber sinense spore suspensions under controlled greenhouse conditions, followed by an eight-month observation period. To systematically characterize and model the morphological changes during ectomycorrhizal development, we employed an innovative approach integrating resin sectioning with confocal microscopy. Ectomycorrhizal formation was initially observed two months post inoculation, with a colonization rate reaching 24.4 ± 5.3% by the third month. The ectomycorrhizae displayed a distinct color progression from light brown through ochre and finally dark brown, typically manifesting either monopodial or branched structures. Early developmental stages (2–3 months) were characterized by a thin mycelial membrane enveloping the root surface, accompanied by limited hyphal penetration into the root system. By the eighth month, the colonization rate stabilized at 45.2 ± 8.6%, with enhanced organization and density of the fungal mantle and extended Hartig nets reaching the periphery of outer cortical cells. The continuous growth and differentiation of mycorrhizal root tips generated repetitive root architectures, significantly enhancing symbiotic efficiency. These findings provide critical insights into the morphological development and symbiotic effectiveness of truffle ectomycorrhizae while establishing a methodological framework for investigating ectomycorrhizal associations in other economically significant plant–fungal systems. Full article