title: Assessment of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in the natural habitats of Tuber magnatum (Ascomycota, Pezizales).
abstract: The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities of four natural Tuber magnatum truffle grounds, located in different Italian regions (Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Molise, and Tuscany), were studied. The main objective of this study was to characterize and compare the ECM fungal communities in the different regions and in productive (where T. magnatum ascomata were found) and nonproductive points. More than 8,000 (8,100) colonized root tips were counted in 73 soil cores, and 129 operational taxonomic units were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Although the composition of the ECM fungal communities studied varied, we were able to highlight some common characteristics. The most plentiful ECM fungal taxa belong to the Thelephoraceae and Sebacinaceae families followed by Inocybaceae and Russulaceae. Although several ectomycorrhizas belonging to Tuber genus were identified, no T. magnatum ectomycorrhizas were found. The putative ecological significance of some species is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, via Vetoio, Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oddis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lalli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pacioni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maccherini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salerni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zambonelli
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal