Molecular identification of Tuber magnatum ectomycorrhizae in the field

Tuber ectomycorrhizae in a Tuber magnatum truffiere, located in Central Italy, were studied using molecular methods. Specifically, RFLP-ITS analyses, ITS sequencing and specific probes hybridization were used to identify 335 Tuber-like ectomycorrhizal morphotypes. Molecular identification was possible even when distinct morphological characteristics were lacking. For the first time, T magnatum ectomycorrhizae and other coexisting Tuber species collected in the field were analysed using molecular tools for unambiguous identification. Although the truffiere under investigation yields good harvests of T magnatum fruiting bodies, the percentage of T magnatum ectomycorrhizae found was very low (less than 4.4% of the 335 root tips analysed), whereas the percentages of Tuber maculatum and Tuber rufum were considerably higher (48.9% and 19.0%, respectively). (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.