photo: Black truffles (left) and winter truffles look similar but fetch very different prices. A new study shows that many truffle farmers are accidentally harvesting winter truffles instead of the more valuable truffles.
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Credit: Bend Lemmond
Some truffle producers in the eastern US want to grow European black truffles -scientific name, Tuber melanosporum – are accidentally growing winter truffles – Tuber brumale – a similar variety that looks similar but sells for less, according to new research from truffle researchers in University of Florida and Michigan State University.
In the US and around the world, European black truffles are sold in truffle orchards, which consist of trees whose roots have been deliberately seeded with spores of the desired species, a process called inoculation.
The researchers say the orchards in their study may have planted trees lightly inoculated with truffle spores, not the coveted European truffles, which sell for hundreds of dollars a pound and are the hallmark of haute cuisine.
Working in collaboration with North American truffle growers, the researchers analyzed 10 samples from anonymous truffle orchards in six eastern US states. The samples were sent for analysis after truffle collectors identified them as unusual.
“Our findings suggest that truffle producers in the eastern US are also facing this challenge. Genetically testing the seeds used for inoculation and transplanted seedlings can help growers ensure they produce the varieties they want to achieve,” said Ben Lemmond, first author of the study. research and a doctoral student studying plant pathology at the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
In fact, European black truffles and winter truffles look so similar that researchers used genetic testing to identify the samples in the study.
The winter truffle, or Tuber brumale, has a dark, shiny exterior and a white interior similar to the European black truffle, Tuber melanosporum. Although both are sold commercially, they vary in price and cooking.
“The orchard owners in this study approached us because they found truffles in their orchards that they suspected were not European black truffles, and we confirmed this through DNA barcoding,” said Matthew Smith, lead author of the study. associate professor in the UF/IFAS department of plant pathology.
“It is up to the orchard owners to decide what to do. They can take steps to analyze black truffles from winter,” said Smith, who is also curator of the UF Fungal Herbarium.
“The only way to get rid of unwanted truffles that have already grown in the soil is to remove the trees, and then you’ll be starting an orchard. Even so, spores from the winter can remain in the soil,” added Smith.
Lemmond says that although winter truffles may not have the European black truffles, there is still a market for them. Accurately identifying the types of truffles sold to chefs and consumers is especially important now that new types of truffles from Europe have been identified in North America.
“It is important for people to know that there is more in the world than just ‘black’ and ‘white’. There are more than a dozen varieties of truffles that are harvested commercially, and as our research shows, even two truffles that may look similar at first glance may be two varieties with very different culinary uses,” said Lemmond.
The authors of the study say they are grateful to the farmers and collectors who provided the samples, because they help the scientific community understand the biology of the different species of truffles in North America, many of which are still unknown.
“We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with North American truffle farmers and the growing industry in the US. As this research shows, there is great value in working together, which provides opportunities for good citizen science and student training. Furthermore, the results this emphasizes the importance of controlling and verifying the seedlings before planting, which will benefit each farmer and the entire truffle industry,” said Greg Bonito, one of the study’s co-authors and an assistant professor at the department. in plant, soil and insect science at Michigan State University.
Alassane Sow, an undergraduate researcher at Michigan State University, also co-authored the study.
This research was supported by a grant from the US National Science Foundation.
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