title: Tuber aestivum and Tuber uncinatum: two morphotypes or two species?
abstract: Tuber spp. are ectomycorrhizal fungi that establish symbioses with shrubs and trees. Because of their different smell and taste, Tuber uncinatum and Tuber aestivum are two truffle morphotypes with a different market value, but whether or not T. uncinatum and T. aestivum are different taxa is still an open debate among mycologists. In order to identify molecular keys characterizing both T. aestivum and T. uncinatum morphotypes, ITS/RFLPs analyses were carried out on a large collection of samples from all over Italy and from other European countries, followed by a study of the phylogenesis of ITS, beta-tubulin and EF 1-alpha genes, on representative samples. The present study provides compelling evidence that: (i) T. uncinatum and T. aestivum belong to the same species, (ii) neither morphotype presents a specific molecular fingerprint, but they may even share identical alleles at any of the loci analysed; (iii) T. aestivum is most likely under a selfing reproductive mode. Our findings suggest that ecological, rather than genetic causes may account for differences in sporal morphology, taste and smell between T. aestivum and T. uncinatum truffles.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Sezione Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paolocci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riccioni
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Topini
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arcioni
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D006239:Haplotypes; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000166:cytology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D014404:Tubulin