Molecular taxonomy of Chinese truffles belonging to the Tuber rufum and Tuber puberulum groups

The taxonomic position of several Chinese Tuber species belonging to the Rufum- and Puberulum-groups were tentatively determined by analyzing the nuclear ITS region and mitochondrial large ribosomal RNA (mt LrRNA) sequences of several dried ascomata harvested all over China in the last 20 years and compared with American and European samples. Within the Rufum-group, it was possible to differentiate the specimens harvested on the three continents: Asia (China), Europe, and North America. In China, three species belonging to the Rufam-group could be validly recognized: T. huidongense, T. liatongense, and T. taiyuanense. The taxonomy of the Puberulum group appeared much more complex. Within the Puberulum-group, it was not possible to clearly separate the Chinese specimens from the American and European ones. Nevertheless, at least three new species or subspecies belonging to the Puberulum-group are present in China.