The Open Forest Science Journal

2008, 1 : 16-23
Published online 2008 June 3. DOI: 10.2174/1874398600801010016
Publisher ID: TOFSCIJ-1-16

Black Truffle Production, Soils and Mediterranean Woods: Spanish Research Contributions (1962-2006)

L.G. García-Montero , P. Díaz , I. Valverde , M.A. Grande and J. Velázquez
Department of Forestry Engineering, E.T.S.I. Montes, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Ciudad Universitaria 28040 Madrid, Spain.

ABSTRACT

The production of mycorrhizal fungi provides higher economic returns than any other forest product in many Mediterranean woods. In these areas, truffles (Tuber spp.) and mushrooms of Boletus and Lactarius genus are the fungi that yield the highest economic benefits. However, there are still evident gaps in the understanding of the truffle's biological cycles, ecology and interactions with host plants and other fungi. In the last 12 years, Spanish research has begun to respond to the requirements of truffle research. Most of Spanish Tuber references deal with the areas of agronomy, forestry, ecology and soil science. In this respect, Spain is one of the main truffle-producing countries in the world and its varied climate, topography and lithology make it a useful geographic area for increasing knowledge on Tuber ecology and truffle production. This work describes the content of Spanish research and its impact on the knowledge of truffles.