title: Characterization of Morphology, Volatile Profiles, and Molecular Markers in Edible Desert Truffles from the Negev Desert.
abstract: Desert truffles are mycorrhizal, hypogeous fungi considered a delicacy. On the basis of morphological characters, we identified three desert truffle species that grow in the same habitat in the Negev desert. These include Picoa lefebvrei (Pat.), Tirmania nivea (Desf.) Trappe, and Terfezia boudieri (Chatain), all associated with Helianthemum sessiliflorum. Their taxonomy was confirmed by PCR-RFLP. The main volatiles of fruit bodies of T. boudieri and T. nivea were 1-octen-3-ol and hexanal; however, volatiles of the latter species further included branched-chain amino acid derivatives such as 2-methylbutanal and 3-methylbutanal, phenylalanine derivatives such as benzaldehyde and benzenacetaldehyde, and methionine derivatives such as methional and dimethyl disulfide. The least aromatic truffle, P. lefebvrei, contained low levels of 1-octen-3-ol as the main volatile. Axenic mycelia cultures of T. boudieri displayed a simpler volatile profile compared to its fruit bodies. This work highlights differences in the volatile profiles of desert truffles and could hence be of interest for selecting and cultivating genotypes with the most likable aroma.
authors.affiliation: The Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamle
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Plant Sciences, the Volcani Center , Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.affiliation: Dalpitriot , Moran 32, Timrat, Israel.
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lewinsohn
authors.affiliation: North American Mycological Association - Medicinal Mushrooms Committee , 192 Partridge LaneConcord, MA 01742, USA.
authors.forename: Elinoar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shavit
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roth-Bejerano
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kagan-Zur
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Ze'ev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.affiliation: Desert Agro-Research Center, Ramat-Negev R&D , D. N. Halutza 85515, Israel.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Plant Sciences, the Volcani Center , Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaady
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Plant Sciences, the Volcani Center , Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: Efraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewinsohn
authors.affiliation: The Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3969-8541
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sitrit
keywords: Helianthemum sessiliflorum; Picoa lefebvrei; Terfezia boudieri; Tirmania nivea; desert truffles; volatiles