title: Intraspecific genotypic variability determines concentrations of key truffle volatiles.
abstract: • Aroma variability in truffles has been attributed to maturation (Tuber borchii), linked to environmental factors (Tuber magnatum), but the involvement of genetic factors has been ignored. We investigated aroma variability in Tuber uncinatum, a species with wide distribution. Our aim was to assess aroma variability at different spatial scales (i.e. trees, countries) and to quantify how aroma was affected by genotype, fruiting body maturity, and geographical origin. • A volatile fingerprinting method was used to analyze the aroma of 223 T. uncinatum fruiting bodies from seven European countries. Maturity was estimated from spore melanization. Genotypic fingerprinting was performed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). • Discriminant analysis revealed that, regardless of the geographical origin of the truffles, most of the aroma variability was caused by eight-carbon-containing volatiles (C8-VOCs). In an orchard of T. uncinatum, truffles producing different concentrations of C8-VOCs clustered around distinct host trees. This clustering was not associated with maturity, but was associated with fungal genotype. • These results indicate that the variation in C8-VOCs in truffles is most likely under genetic control. They exemplify that understanding the factors behind aroma variability requires a holistic approach. Furthermore, they also raise new questions regarding the ecological role of 1-octen-3-ol in truffles.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Splivallo
authors.affiliation: Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nayuf
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valdez
authors.affiliation: Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.affiliation: Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marta Castiella
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ona
authors.affiliation: 41A routes des Annuaires, CH-1870, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Feussner
authors.affiliation: Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karlovsky
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000442:Octanols / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D000442:Octanols; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C038844:1-octen-3-ol