title: Viability and Infectivity of Tuber borchii after Cryopreservation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Truffles (Tuber spp.) are the most precious ectomycorrhizal edible mushrooms whose biodiversity is seriously endangered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a protocol for cryopreservation of Tuber spp. mycelia using T. borchii as a model species, verifying whether conservation in liquid nitrogen may affect viability, growth rate, hyphal morphology and infectivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cryopreservation was performed using sorbitol, sucrose and DMSO as cryoprotectants. The morphological parameters analyzed were: hyphal diameter, septal distance and hyphal growth unit. Cryopreserved mycelium infectivity was assessed by inoculating Quercus robur seedlings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In T. borchii cryopreserved mycelium, the lag-phase lasted for 6-42 days but no differences in growth curve evolution, growth rate and hyphal morphology were observed except for hyphal growth unit. No differences in mycorrhizal colonization were observed between the seedlings inoculated with non-cryopreserved and cryopreserved mycelium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The established protocol is suitable for long-term conservation of Tuber mycelium and opens up the possibility of creating a Tuber spp. germplasm bank to preserve truffle diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Bologna University, Viale Fanin, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piattoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Bologna University, Viale Fanin, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Bologna University, Viale Fanin, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siham
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 1, L'Aquila, Italy. mirco.iotti@univaq.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Bologna University, Viale Fanin, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zambonelli
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents