For those in the know, a recent article in the prestigious science journal, Nature, has caused waves in the truffle world. Having no less than 50 authors, this excellent piece of research helps to start to answer some of the current questions in truffle research. One of the big questions has been whether the truffle itself is responsible for its complex aroma or whether it is other organisms that call the truffle fruiting
body home. Through sequencing the genome it can now be conclusively stated that the truffle itself is responsible for the majority of its heady scent -
valuable information for those working on its flavour. Of more interest to cultivators and ecologists, it has also been shown that truffles do indeed have a sex life. Taking on board such details when cultivating truffles is absolutely vital in order to make sure that the plantation succeeds. For good production, plantations may need good levels of different identified mating types.This only further highlights the problems with using cloned inoculum and emphasises the need to have material from a range of sources in any one plantation. Genetic diversity is something that has always been a key part of Mycorrhizal Systems methods, as well as the theory that the truffle largely reproduces sexually. Such research serves to highlight the benefits of our approach as well as substantially furthering our understanding.

From June 2010, MSL will be launching a range of analytical services, including DNA testing of trees and truffles. For more information on this or truffle cultivation, please do get in contact.