Ecological patterns of Tuber melanosporum and different Quercus Mediterranean forests: Quantitative production of truffles, burn sizes and soil studies

Most studies on Tuber melanosporum fail to supply statistical data on carpophore production and other quantitative data associated with truffle ecology, such as the development of its burns (truffle production sites). During 7 years, we studied 208 burns associated with Quercus ilex subsp. ballota, Q. faginea, Corylus avellana and Tilia platyphyllos in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. The results showed that burn size is a very significant factor as it accounts for 38% of the variance in carpophore production. However, no significant difference in the size of burns was observed between five types of wood, although significant variability in carpophore production existed between these wood types. Furthermore, statistical analysis shows that a high concentration of active carbonate in the soil accounts for up to 51% of the variance in T. melanosporum burn size. The ecological conditions of burns cause elevated concentrations of active carbonate and exchangeable Ca 2+, and T. melanosporum activity and burn size are simultaneously favoured by a high concentration of both factors, which suggests a feedback process. These results may indicate a possible application for the use of calcareous amendments in natural burns and truffle cultivation. Moreover, we also determined the considerable truffle-producing ability and mycorrhizing capacity of Quercus faginea. Although Q. faginea is a very little-known species in truffle culture, the results provide support for its implementation.