Research
Our Living Lab
At The National Truffle Centre, we host a world leading lab on truffle technology and the co-cultivation of other edible fungi species and trees, termed ‘mycoforestry’. Co-funded by UKRI and BBSRC, our resources range from fungi culturing and incubation to full microscopy and DNA testing technology including sequencing of soil communities and targeted qPCR. A large experimental growth unit allows experimentation with living trees in a controlled environment and the whole facility is complemented with a ‘living lab’ – several acres of ground in which experimental truffle orchards and other fungi-host trees are planted.
Authors: Thomas, P. W and Büntgen, U.
Our Researchers
Our facility is directed by Prof. Paul Thomas, an expert on edible mycorrhizal fungi. Prof. Adrian Slater oversees the DNA technology and Prof. David Kothamasi focusses on mycorrhiza biology. The research team is completed by technician and truffle expert Delnia Sepahvand. Part of our research focuses on carbon negative food production through mycoforestry, and for this project the research team is complimented by forestry expert Prof. Alister Jump and environmental modeller Dr. Daniel Chapman, both based at the University of Stirling. Examples of our research outputs are below.
Addtional funding: UKRI, BBSRC, Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd
Mycorrhizal fungi and invertebrates: Impacts on Tuber melanosporum ascospore dispersal and lifecycle by isopod mycophagy
The icon ectomycorrhizal (EcM) species, Tuber melanosporum, requires mycophagy for ascospore dispersal. Isopods are often found within fruitbodies and to explore why, Oniscus asellus were presented with T. melanosporum as a food source. Fruitbodies were consumed at a rate of 4.0 mg per isopod, over 24 h. Most of the recovered faecal pellets contained ascospores after 12 h. Gut-transit inflicted little mechanical damage to ascospores, and the majority were still contained with an ascus 30 h post feeding. Further, ascospores were observed in faecal pellets 18 days after consumption. Combined, the results suggest a previously overlooked role for isopods in EcM spore dispersal. The impacts for EcM ecology and the role of isopods in Tuber spp. lifecycles, including mating type distribution, is discussed alongside the emerging threat of climate change and how such knowledge can inform management by custodians of relevant habitat types.
Keywords: Mycorrhiza, Mycophagy, Truffle cultivation, Oniscus asellus, Tuber melanosporum (perigord truffle), Isopod
Authors: Thomas, P. W. and Thomas, H.W.
Understanding the performance of truffle dogs
NOTE: Research such as this allows us to guide you as to where is and isn't suitable for truffle cultivation, taking into account different climate change scenarios.
ABSTRACT: Trained dogs can detect many biochemical traces, from the most hostile, such as COVID-19, to the most expensive, such as truffles. However, it is still unclear how the interplay of genetic disposition, education, experience, personality, and environmental conditions influences the performance of dogs. Here, we combine published evidence with the knowledge of truffle hunters to assess direct and indirect factors that affect the hunting performance of truffle dogs. Since the transport of truffle aroma into the canine nasal cavity is most puzzling, we propose five experiments to further investigate the role of weather conditions, soil parameters, and bacterial composition on the dispersal of truffle volatiles perceived by trained dogs. We also suggest exploring whether the application of multiple dogs increases the success of truffle hunting. Moreover, we argue that interdisciplinary research on dog behavior and performance, including insights from veterinary science and comparative psychology as well as the experience of truffle hunters and farmers, is needed to improve the quantity and quality of truffle harvests.
Authors: Tomáš Cejka, Paul W. Thomas, Daniel Oliachd, Ulrich Stobbe, Simon Egli, Willy Tegel, Giada Centenaro, Ludger Sproll, István Bagii, Miroslav Trnka, Ulf Büntgen
A risk assessment of Europe's black truffle sector under predicted climate change
NOTE: Research such as this allows us to guide you as to where is and isn't suitable for truffle cultivation, taking into account different climate change scenarios.
ABSTRACT: The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is a highly revered culinary icon species that grows symbiotically with its host trees across several parts of southern Europe. Where harvested under natural or cultivated conditions, truffles can have a significant socioeconomic impact and may even form a key component of cultural identity. Although some aspects of truffle biology and ecology have been elucidated recently, the role of abiotic, environmental and climatic factors in the production and maturation of their fruitbodies is still largely unknown. Based on 36-year-long, continuous records of Mediterranean truffle yield, we demonstrate that decreased summer precipitation together with increased summer temperatures significantly reduce the fungus' subsequent winter harvest. Using state-of-the-art climate model projections, we predict that a significant decline of 78–100% in southern European truffle production is likely to occur between 2071 and 2100. The additional threats of forecasted heatwaves, forest fires, pest and disease outbreaks are discussed along with socioeconomic and ecological consequences of a warmer and dryer future climate. Our results emphasize the need for unravelling the direct and indirect effects of climate change on Europe's truffle sector and underline the importance of conservation initiatives at local to international scales. Keywords: Climate change, Ectomycorrhiza fungi, Fungal ecology, Truffle yield, Tuber melanosporum, Périgord truffle.
Authors: Thomas, P. W and Büntgen, U.
Risk and reward of the global truffle sector under predicted climate change
Abstract: Climate change has been described as the main threat for the cultivation and growth of truffles, but hydroclimate variability and model uncertainty challenge regional projections and adaptation strategies of the emerging sector. Here, we conduct a literature review to define the main Périgord truffle growing regions around the world and use 20 global climate models to assess the impact of future trends and extremes in temperature, precipitation and soil moisture on truffle production rates and price levels in all cultivation regions in the Americas, Europe, South Africa, and Australasia. Climate model simulations project 2.3 million km2 of suitable land for truffle growth will experience 50% faster aridification than the rests of the global land surface, with significantly more heat waves between 2070 and 2099 CE. Overall, truffle production rates will decrease by ∼15%, while associated price levels will increase by ∼36%. At the same time, a predicted increase in summer precipitation and less intense warming over Australasia will likely alleviate water scarcity and support higher yields of more affordable truffles. Our findings are relevant for truffle farmers and businesses to adapt their irrigation systems and management strategies to future climate change.
Keywords: adaptation strategies, agricultural drought, climate models, irrigation systems, price estimates, production risk, truffle industry
Authors: Tomáš, C., Isaac, E. L., Oliach, D., Martínez-Peña, F., Egli, S., Thomas, P. W., Trnka, M and Büntgen, U.
Mycoforestry And Carbon-negative Food
Abstract: Demand for agricultural land is a potent accelerating driver of global deforestation, presenting multiple interacting issues at different spatiotemporal scales. Here we show that inoculating the root system of tree planting stock with edible ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can reduce the food-forestry land-use conflict, enabling appropriately managed forestry plantations to contribute to protein and calorie production and potentially increasing carbon sequestration. Although, when compared to other food groups, we show that EMF cultivation is inefficient in terms of land use with a needed area of ~668 m2 y kg−1 protein, the additional benefits are vast. Depending on the habitat type and tree age, greenhouse gas emissions may range from −858 to 526 kg CO2-eq kg−1 protein and the sequestration potential stands in stark contrast to nine other major food groups. Further, we calculate the missed food production opportunity of not incorporating EMF cultivation into current forestry activities, an approach that could enhance food security for millions of people. Given the additional biodiversity, conservational and rural socioeconomic potential, we call for action and development to realize the sustainable benefits of EMF cultivation.
Keywords: ectomycorrhizal, sustainability, forestry, land-use conflict, mycoforestry.
Authors: Thomas, P. W and Jump, A. S.
Ectomycorrhiza resilience and recovery to extreme flood events in Tuber aestivum and Quercus robur
Abstract: Very little is known about the impact of flooding and ground saturation on ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM) and increasing flood events are expected with predicted climate change. To explore this, seedlings inoculated with the EcM species Tuber aestivum were exposed to a range of flood durations. Oak seedlings inoculated with T. aestivum were submerged for between 7 and 65 days. After a minimum of 114-day recovery, seedling growth measurements were recorded, and root systems were destructively sampled to measure the number of existing mycorrhizae in different zones. Number of mycorrhizae did not display correlation with seedling growth measurements. Seven days of submersion resulted in a significant reduction in mycorrhizae numbers and numbers reduced most drastically in the upper zones. Increases in duration of submersion further impacted mycorrhizae numbers in the lowest soil zone only. T. aestivum mycorrhizae can survive flood durations of at least 65 days. After flooding, mycorrhizae occur in higher numbers in the lowest soil zone, suggesting a mix of resilience and recovery. The results will aid in furthering our understanding of EcM but also may aid in conservation initiatives as well as providing insight for those whose livelihoods revolve around the collection of EcM fruiting bodies or cropping of the plant partners.
Authors: Thomas, P. W.
Authors: Thomas, P. W
A novel approach to combine food production with carbon sequestration, biodiversity and conservation goals
Abstract: Land use conflict is a major contributor to unsustainable deforestation rates, with agriculture being the primary driver. Demand for agricultural output is forecast to increase for years to come and the associated deforestation is a key driver in global declines of biodiversity. Moreover, deforestation is contributing to instability of agricultural production systems and reduces our ability to mitigate anthropogenically driven climate change. There is urgency in reducing this land use conflict and the cultivation of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) may provide a partial solution. As an example, here we focus on Lactarius indigo, an edible and historically appreciated species with distribution in the Neotropics and Nearctic. Exploring the geographic spread and associated climate preferences, we describe how cultivation of this species can be combined with forest-based biodiversity and conservation goals. Detailing a full methodology, including mycelium production and how to create trees that may produce the fungus, we explore potential benefits. Combing data from the emerging field of EMF cultivation with nutritional studies, we show that a protein production of 7.31 kg per hectare should be possible, exceeding that of extensive pastoral beef production. In contrast to commercial agriculture, L. indigo cultivation may enhance biodiversity, contribute to conservational goals and create a net sink of greenhouse gases whilst at the same time producing a similar or higher level of protein per unit area than the most common agriculture use of deforested land. With such startling and clear benefits, we call for urgent action to further the development of such novel food production systems.
Authors: Paul W. Thomas and Luis-Bernardo Vazquez
