Land Selection in Truffle Cultivation

Abstract

Truffles are a highly valued fungi group because of their gastronomic and economic importance. Even though the demands for truffles, particularly Tuber melanosporum and T. aestivum, has been increased year by year, the natural production of these valued fungi has decreased. So, truffle cultivation is becoming an agricultural alternative in Europe, and the rural economy was supported by cultivating truffle. In Turkey, truffle cultivation was becoming popular in recent years. However, there is not enough literature for understanding the basics of truffle cultivation in Turkey. Hence, it is aimed to discuss the selection of suitable truffle land. Because land selection can be considered as the first step of truffle cultivation and unsuitable land can be limited truffle cultivation success. So, the ecological features of economically important truffles, T. aestivum, T. borchii, T. magnatum, and T. melanosporum, are given in this study based on current literature and field experience.