Volume 18(3), 40- 44, 2014 JOURNAL of Horticulture, Forestry and Biotechnology www.journal-hfb.usab-tm.ro

40

Expanding of Tuber melanosporum truffle in culture - case study Cântar I. C.1 *, Merce O.1, Cadar N.1, Simon-Cernescu Nicoleta1

1Forest Research and Management Institute

*Corresponding author. Email: cantar.cosmin@yahoo.com

Abstract The main objective for this work is to develop the technologies for planting and care of forest cultures specialised in truffle production in Romania. Preparation the ground for the installation of culture involved: plowing of soil on the entire surface, correction of soil acidity by application of amendments, shredding of soil and incorporation and mixing the amendments on soil. Planting scheme used, was of 5 X 5 m, in 5 rows with 8 sapling on each. Also, this paper show some aspects about care of young forest culture mycorrhized with truffle and growth of saplings in the first vegetation season.

Key words Truffle, Tuber melanosporum, area of culture

This case study on extending the Tuber

melanosporum truffle in culture aims to present the

technology of planting and care in the early years, for

forest cultures specialized on truffle production in

Romania, developed following the establishment of

such a culture in Moldova Noua, Caras Severin county.

Elaboration of this technology was performed

following the establishment of a such culture in

Moldova Noua, Caras-Severin county.

Black truffle or Périgord truffle, Tuber

melanosporum Vittadini is found naturally in the

lowlands of the Alps (France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia),

but by plantations was spread to other areas with mild

winters in Europe, Australia and New Zealand , Chile

etc. (3).

In last years, in Romania has been installed in

several experimental plantations (Chira et al 2012). It

has an intense and very personal aroma. Natural areas

began to be depleted by harvesting and the market is

supplied from cultures. The truffles growth associated

with the roots of oaks (especially pubescent oak, in

stands with low level of consistence, even isolated

trees), oak, poplar, hazel, lime, hornbeam, beech,

walnut, pine, willow. He needs a climate with hot

summers, but with constant rainfall (including

summer), at altitudes between 0 and 1000 m. Tuber

melanosporum prefer well-drained soils rich in calcium

(and other alkaline salts), aerated, porous. Are winter

truffles, which ripen from November to March (in

France and Italy) (3).

Knowing that Tuber melanosporum has a

natural range that may exceed the east of France,

Switzerland and the west of Italy, if the plantation is

successful, we can make a big jump (almost 1500 km)

on the distribution of this species of truffle. Using

Quercus cerris inoculated with Tuber melanosporum

from Italy, plantations were performed (2012) at

Moldova Noua, a region with temperate-continental

climate with Mediterranean influences.

Choise of the land for truffle culture

Choosing of the land on which has followed

the settings of experimental forest culture, mycorrhized

with truffle, was based on several considerations

described below.

Influence of sub-Mediterranean climate which is found on Moldova Noua area was paramount

in choosing a land in such climate, that allows the

better development of the wood species mycorrhized

and the truffle, both originary from Italy.

Land ownership influenced its choice,

because the agricultural land used needs to be privately

owned and stable, compared to the long time needed to

obtain results that removing this area from classical

agricultural production.

Land security is also important, because one

fenced area ensure a perfect protection against wild

animals, cattle and various individuals.

Positioning of the land toward the forest,

was also important, a great distance to it ensuring a low

probability of mycorrhizing with other fungi or

contacting diseases and pests.

The pH of the soil required by the crop is the

basic pH, in this case being necessary to apply

correction amendment.

A satellite image of the terrain chosen

satisfying the above conditions can be analyzed in

Figure 1.

41

Fig. 1 Satellite images of the terrain (Google Earth)

Soil preparation

For planting seedlings of Quercus cerris

mycorrhized with Tuber melanosporum, it was

necessary to prepare the ground by plowing, by

applying of calcium carbonate to correct pH and its

incorporation into the soil and picketing the land for

planting seedlings.

Plowing done was spring plowing with depth

of 25 cm on the total surface of 1350 sqm (0.135 ha).

Prepared land is rectangular with dimensions of 30 m x

45 m. In Figures 2 can be observed plowed field and

applying amendments.

Immediately after plowing, in order to correct

pH, lime from the trade was applied as an amendment

in amount of 0.3 kg/m² and a total of 400 kg for the

whole area was necesary (16 bags of 25 kg each). To

control the uniformity of applying on whole surface,

was desingned a grid on the land with dust lime. Using

this method was designed 15 rectangular surfaces and

on each surface was applied the quantity from one bag

of lime.

Fig. 2 Applying of amendments on newly plowed field

Incorporate the amendments on soil was made by 4

passes with the harrow, perpendicular twos, on all

surface. For mechanical work, both, plowing and

incorporation of amendments was used U 445 tractor.

In addition to incorporating the amendments, passage

harrow aimed and shredding soil after plowing,

removing the roots and leveling the surface.

The last step in preparing the ground for the

installation of culture is represented by land picketing.

Picketing was conducted for planting 40 saplings on

planting scheme 5 m x 5 m. In Figure 3 is shown the

area ready for planting.

42

Fig. 3 Land picketed and ready for planting

Maintenance of plantations

Well known that Tuber melanosporum needs

a warm climate and constant precipitations, the care of

plantations especialy in summer, consist first in

ensuring constant needs of water. In the case of

Quercus cerris plantation mycorrhized with Tuber

melanosporum from Moldova Noua, the frequency of

watering in dry periods in summer was 2 times weekly

(Fig. 4).

Fig 4. Watering of Quercus cerris mychorrhized with Tuber melanosporum (Sapling protected against rabbits)

Another important aspect that can endanger the

viability of seedlings in the first years of life, is the

damage on them produced by rabbits. So, is necessary

to protect each sapling separately, against rabbits,

through cylinder fence (Fig. 4).

A special attention, especially in the first

years of life should be given to diseases and pests of

sampling planted in the field, pests and diseases that

can debilitate them. In the plantation from Moldova

Nouă, after finding the culture of Lymantria dispar

caterpillars on foliage of sapling, we intervened to

combat this caterpillar very fast.

For a good supply of soil around the seedling

may be necessary to mobilize soil around the seedling

which, if done, must be done on a very small depth, in

practice, only breaking the soil crust to facilitate its

water supply.

43

Measurements done

In order to determine the growth of saplings

on the first year, we made measurements on height and

diameter on May 2012, after planting and on

September 2012 at fine of vegetation season. These

sapling dimensions are presented below in the table 1.

Table 1

Sapling dimensions after planting (may 2012) and at fine of vegetation season (September 2012)

H [cm]

d [mm] 5 rows with 5 sapling (5 m - distance between row)

May

20

12

8 s

apli

ng

s o

n r

ow

(5 m

– d

ista

nce

bet

wee

n

sap

lin

gs

on

ro

w)

24

2,8

31

3

37

4,1

32,5

3

29,5

2,8

31

3

21

2,8

31

3,1

24

3

31

3,6

25,5

2,8

34

3

30

3,3

29

3

23

2,7

25

3

22

2,5

31

3

29

2,9

22

3,5

22

3

26

3,5

32

3,1

22,5

3

26

3

23

3

32

3,2

31

2,9

33

3,5

31

3

32

3

14

2

25

3,4

33

3

38

2,8

22

3

33

3

29

3

16

2,7

23

3,7

Sep

tem

ber

201

2

8 s

apli

ng

s o

n r

ow

(5 m

– d

ista

nce

bet

wee

n

sap

lin

gs

on

ro

w)

26

5

33

5,5

35

5,5

35

5,5

32

4,5

36

6

22

6

36

6

25

4,5

34

5,5

29

5

37

5

35

7

32

5,5

27

6

30

6,5

24

3,5

32

4,5

34

4,5

25

5

24

6

31

7

37

10

24

4,5

31

5

25

6,5

37

7

36

5

36

5,5

38

5

39

6

20

5

31

6

36

4

39

4

24

5

37

6,5

34

6

18

4

30

5

Analyzing the table presented bellow observed an

average growth of sapling of 3,5 cm in height and 2,5

mm in diameter. The maximum growth of trees is 38

cm on height and 4 mm on height. Need to mention

that on the first year of vegetation this forest plantation

was attacked by Lymantria dispar caterpillar.

Conclusions

Analyzing this culture on the first year of

vegetation we find the following:

Despite the dry periods, the survival rate of

seedlings is 100%, due to prompt actions of watering.

Development of seedlings established from

measurements revealed a significant growth compared

to the dimensions of seedlings at installation.

Development of leaves of seedlings is good,

despite the attack of Lymantria dispar, thanks to the

quick combating intervention.

Sapling protection against rabbits was

ensured, removing the risk of injury at an early age,

growing stagnation or destruction of saplings.

References

1.Cântar, I. – 2012 – Raport de activitate privind

lucrările efectuate în cazul culturii de la Moldova Nouă

44

din cadrul Temei P.N. 09460302, ICAS Staţiunea

Timişoara;

2.Cântar, I. – 2014 – Expanding the area of culture and

determining cultivation potential of Tuber

melanosporum in

Moldova Noua area (Romania), Oral presentation at

“Training School on Modelling Non-Wood Forest

Products”, El Escorial (Madrid, Spain): 29th

September–3rd October 2014;

3.Chira, D., Chira, Florentina – 2012 – Micorizarea

puieţilor forestieri cu specii de Tuber, Revista de

Silvicultură şi Cinegetică, Anul XVII, Nr. 31, 14 – 22.