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Illuminating the mysterious world of truffles
Author(s) -
Büntgen Ulf,
Egli Simon,
Tegel Willy,
Stobbe Ulrich,
Sproll Ludger,
Elburg Rengert,
Peter Martina,
Nievergelt Daniel,
Cherubini Paolo,
Stenseth Nils C
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/12.wb.021
Subject(s) - snow , library science , geography , history , meteorology , computer science
Considering that truffles were harvested throughout Europe during the 17th century, the Burgundy truffle might have, similarly to the Périgord truffle (Murat et al. 2004), recolonized Europe from some southern refugia, possibly following the last ice age. The observed correlation is not necessarily evidence of a climate-driven range expansion, however, given that other factors (eg competition with other fungi, shift in host-plant range) might lead to such a finding. Clearly, more specimens and a more comprehensive approach, accounting for all variables (eg climate, soil, associated species), will be needed to identify the possible driving forces behind the Burgundy truffle’s current distribution. Here, our analysis suggests that climate change that started in the late 19th century has had little effect on the present distribution of the Burgundy truffle. Büntgen et al.’s conclusions might nevertheless apply to other truffle species with narrower ranges and higher commercial values (eg Périgord or Piedmont truffles). If climate does limit the distribution of the latter two species, even the slight warming in northern Europe envisioned by Büntgen et al. might induce northern expansion. In addition to temperature, other factors – including precipitation, soil properties (Chevalier et al. 2001), and mating type (Rubini et al. 2011) – determine whether truffles produce fruiting bodies. Successful truffle cultivation will consequently succeed only if truffle orchard management shifts from current empirical practices to practices based on scientific evidence. Increasing temperatures alone will not be sufficient for successful truffle cultivation in more northern parts of Europe. Richard Splivallo, Rengenier Rittersma, Nayuf Valdez, Gérard Chevalier, Virginie Molinier, Daniel Wipf, and Petr Karlovsky Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany (ricsi17@hotmail.com); Beltheim-Heyweiler, Germany; Résidence Cristelle, Cournon d’Auvergnes, France; UMR 1347 Agroécologie AgroSup/INRA/uB, Pôle IPM CNRS ERL 6300, Dijon, France