title: Characterization of Tuber borchii and Arbutus unedo mycorrhizas.
abstract: For the first time, arbutoid mycorrhizas established between Tuber borchii and Arbutus unedo were described. Analyzed mycorrhizas were from one T. borchii natural truffle ground, dominated by Pinus pinea, as well as synthesized in greenhouse conditions. A. unedo mycorrhizas presented some typical characteristics of ectomycorrhizas of T. borchii. However, as in arbutoid mycorrhizas, ramification was cruciform and intracellular colonization in epidermal cells was present. The ability of T. borchii to form ectomycorrhizas with A. unedo opens up the possibility to also use this fruit plant for truffle cultivation. This represents an important economic opportunity in Mediterranean areas by combining both the cultivation of precious truffles and the production of edible fruits which are used fresh or in food delicacies.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100, Sassari, Italy, lance@uniss.it.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lancellotti
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iotti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zambonelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franceschini
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D029791:Ericaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D008853:Microscopy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer