winter truffle

NEWS

Prof. Paul Thomas (our Managing Director) has appeared on several TV programmes, radio shows and in many written articles. Specific areas of expertise include the biology, cultivation, hunting and cooking methods of the wide range of truffle species. If you would like an interview or require information for an article then please use our contact form and we would be very happy to help.

Below, our most recent news articles are displayed and our back-catalogue is open for browsing.

July 26, 2024

White truffle trees (Tuber magnatum) – available now but very limited supply

We are incredibly excited to announce that we will have a small amount of Tuber magnatum inoculated trees for sale this season - reserve your order now to avoid disappointment!  
July 24, 2024

Mycorrhizal system’s truffle trees are now certified 

Having now been approved as a Plant Healthy Certified grower, our trees can be planted through grant schemes, such as the English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) where only nurseries with this Plant Healthy certification can be used.
May 16, 2024

Our educational and event space, on the Isle of Bute, West coast of Scotland.

From orchard walks & truffle hunting to microscopic root analysis and talks from our expert team. We also provide a truffle inspired lunch and fizz. 
February 20, 2024

Research Associate Job: microbiology and mycoforestry

We seek a postdoctoral microbiologist with experience of in-field collection of isolates alongside maintaining, screening and developing fungi cultures. This role will focus on the collection and development of ectomycorrhizal (EMF) isolates, optimising in vitro growth conditions and the production of trees inoculated with different EMF species leading to field trials.
January 31, 2024

The Hairy Bikers visit The National Truffle Center

We were delighted to have been asked to be a part of the newest series of The Hairy Bikers, this series follows Dave & Si as they "Go West". The bikers joined Paul and Lyndsay, on the Isle of Bute, last summer, to film for the new series.
December 11, 2023

MSL spearheads new £800,000 R&D project 

With project partners at the University of Stirling (UoS), MSL is leading a new £800,000 mycorrhiza research project that sees the expansion of our DNA sequencing facilities and mycorrhiza culture labs.
August 23, 2023

Scottish & English truffles available now!

The season is in full flow with some incredible scented truffles coming from a number of our UK orchards.
July 3, 2023

New job vacancies: Postdoc and lab assistant

We seek a postdoctoral microbiologist with experience of in-field collection of isolates alongside maintaining, screening and developing fungi cultures. This two-year role will focus on the collection and development of ectomycorrhizal (EMF) isolates, optimising in vitro growth conditions and the production of trees inoculated with different EMF species leading to field trials. Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant area of biological sciences and be experienced in lab-based culturing techniques. Experience with mycorrhiza identification and DNA metabarcoding would be highly beneficial.
January 30, 2023

New UK truffle Centre to open in 2023/24

Exciting plans are afoot as we plan to open the first UK truffle centre in late 2023/24.
  • Samantha Ellis

    From guidance in orchard establishment, tree supply and management to our own truffle distribution network, we've got all angles covered

    Samantha Ellis
    Business Development
  • Dr Paul Thomas

    Thorough and scientific methodologies, attention to detail and having a committed partner at every step of the way, is the only reliable approach to truffle cultivation

    Dr Paul Thomas
    General Director
  • Daniel Paskin

    With our own genetics lab and research sites in 23 countries, we are truly world-leading in the field

    Daniel Paskin
    Nursery Manager
August 5, 2022

Can I grow white truffles?

...in truffle literature, it is often claimed that truffle mycorrhiza can tolerate submersion for '14 days and no more' but with flood events increasing in frequency, we thought we'd put this to the test. As part of the experiment, saplings with truffle mycorrhiza were flooded from 7 to 65 days and full results have now been published.
February 15, 2022

Can truffle trees survive flooding and heavy rain?

...in truffle literature, it is often claimed that truffle mycorrhiza can tolerate submersion for '14 days and no more' but with flood events increasing in frequency, we thought we'd put this to the test. As part of the experiment, saplings with truffle mycorrhiza were flooded from 7 to 65 days and full results have now been published.
February 19, 2021

MSL Blog: Can we grow white truffles, Tuber magnatum? – Feb 2021

How can I grow white truffles or Tuber magnatum? Can I farm white truffles? Can I grow white truffles in the UK? These are some of the most common questions we’ve been asked over the years and the response has always been that the technology just isn't there yet. Many years ago, we developed a system that resulted in well colonised trees with T. magnatum, but we had never offered these for sale as there are still so many unknowns about its cultivation. Consequently, there was widespread excitement this week when it was reported by a French team that white truffles had been produced from inoculated trees and in just 4.5 years! We thought it would be useful to provide a brief synopsis of this report and the current state of the technology to help would-be cultivators.
February 16, 2021

MSL Blog: truffles and sex: an update on what we know and implications for truffle production – Feb 2021

Within truffe cultivation, some basic parameters are understood. For example, it is widely accepted that to cultivate black winter ‘Périgord’ truffles (Tuber melanosporum) we need a suitable climate, alkaline soils and host trees whose roots have formed mycorrhizal structures with T. melanosporum. Across the globe, these basic principles form the basis of truffle cultivation and an approach that is broadly successful. However, the very basic question of how a truffle forms and what triggers this development is still poorly understood. One of the most basic questions can be summarised in one word that has occupied humans for millennia: sex! In this blog post Prof. Paul Thomas discusses how DNA sequencing technology has led to the discovery that for the winter truffle there are two mating types (or ‘sexes’) and these must come together to form fruiting bodies (truffles).