1,721,012 research outputs found
Current state and perspectives of truffle genetics and sustainable biotechnology
No full textMycorrhizal fungi belonging to the genus Tuber produce, after the establishment of a productive interaction with a plant host, hypogeous fruitbodies of great economic value known as ''truffles''. This review summarizes the state of art on life cycle, genetic, and biotechnological investigations of Tuber spp. The ascocarp formation in truffles is a consequence of the activation of the sexual phase of the biological cycle. The formation of a dikaryotic secondary mycelium and the karyogamy in the ascal cell (followed by meiosis with ascospores formation) have been hypothesized by several authors but some doubts yet arise from the Tuber cycle by considering that a series of abnormalities have been pointed out in respect to other Ascomycetes. It is unclear if binucleated hyphal cells are derived from the fusion of mononucleated cells belonging to mycelia from different mating types or from one only. According to the karyotypes of Tuber melanosporum, Tuber magnatum, and Tuber borchii, the numbers of hyphal chromosomes suggest a chromosome number of eight (2n); these values are in the range of those of several Ascomycetes and observed for Tuber aestivum (2n=10). The importance and growth in interest during the last years in the fungi protoplasts isolation and transformation techniques can be related to current developments in Tuber genetics and biotechnology. T. borchii could be transformed through liposome-mediated delivery of genetic material as mycelial protoplasts isolation and fusion with liposomes has already been established. On the other hand, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has been successfully established for T. borchii. © Springer-Verlag 2006
Virtual truffle hunting—a new method of burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum vittad.) site typing
No full textThe aim of this study was to enable searches for truffles (Tuber spp.), particularly the Burgundy truffle (T. aestivum Vittad.), to be carried out in forests based on a method that has been constantly developed since 2007 by the Forest Research Institute. The method is termed “Virtual Truffle Hunting” and it takes 12 parameters into account: bedrock, soil pH, Ca+ and CaCO3 content in soil, C/N ratio, soil structure, altitude of terrain, type of forest site, forest structure, the Burgundy truffle host trees, and the presence of particular species including orchids and insects. A simple “Virtual Truffle Hunting” software has also been developed, which makes the use of the method easy, fast, and effective. This method is to ascertain the truffle potential for all areas in which digital maps are not available. In 2015, the method was tested in 20 sites, representing forests in 5 Polish macroregions. Hunting for hypogeous fungi was conducted from June to October with the help of trained dogs. Thanks to this method, 14 new truffle sites were found. The knowledge of environmental conditions conducive to the Burgundy truffle growth enabled us to form an effective tool in order to identify new sites of truffle presence
An assessment of below-ground ectomycorrhizal diversity of Abies alba Miller in central Italy
No full textIn the framework of an ongoing study on the mycorrhizal associations of silver fir (Abies alba Mill., we investigated the below-ground diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities in ten field sites located in five distinct natural A. alba woods, situated in the central part of the Apennine chain (Abruzzo region, Italy). Based on macro- and microscopic features, a total of 48 morphologically distinct ectomycorrhizal types have been classified on mature trees of A. alba, 37 of which are reported here for the first time. Ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were partially characterized, and their main features described; in many cases, the relevant fungal symbiont was identified at the level of species or genus. The number of distinguishable morphotypes per site was, with few exceptions, rather homogeneous, ranging from (5) 8 to 13 (20). Comparison of morphotype occurrence revealed that only few types were encountered in five or more sampled sites, whereas the vast majority of types was less frequent. The present study revealed a considerably high species diversity of the ectomycorrhizal symbionts of A. alba in a quite restricted area, thus raising interesting questions as to the ectomycorrhizal potential of this host tree over its entire, large natural range
Fungi in ectomycorrhizal associations of silver fir (Abies alba Miller) in Central Italy
No full textNaturally occurring ectomycorrhizas of silver fir (Abies alba Miller) were studied in two stands, one natural and one artificial, situated in Central Italy. A total of 25 mycorrhizal types was classified, for eight of which the mycobiont was identified at the species level. Analysis of macroscopic and microscopic features and matching of field-collected carpophores with associated mycorrhizas led to the tentative identification of several other types encountered during this study, at least at the genus level. No significant differences were noticed between natural and artificial stands in the relative richness of mycorrhizal types found on A. alba, indicating the maturity of the artificial stand with regard to succession of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used for visualization of mycorrhizal structures formed by Lactarius spp., without the need for specific staining with a fluorochrome, thanks to latex autofluorescence. This technique allowed observation of several structures in greater detail than with conventional light microscopy
Progetto MAGNATUM. Monitoraggio delle Attività di Gestione delle tartufaie Naturali di Tuber Magnatum.
No full textSono riportati i risultati del progetto MAGNATU
Accumulation of trace metals in the lichen Evernia prunastri transplanted at biomonitoring sites in central Italy
No full textSamples of the epiphytic lichen Evernia prunastri collected in an unpolluted area were transplanted to the urban environment of Teramo (central Italy). The influence of the transplant process on trace element content was found to be negligible and after only two months, concentrations of all elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) were significantly higher than in control samples. It was suggested that motor traffic was the main source of atmospheric Cr, Cu and Pb, while for Cd and Zn additional sources from phosphate fertilizers and pesticides used in the surrounding farmlands were hypothesized. The possible uptake and accumulation processes of these metals in relation to time of exposure were discusse
(2867–2871) Proposals to conserve the names Tuber aestivum Vittad. against T. aestivum (Wulfen) Spreng. and T. blotii, T. magnatum against T. griseum, and T. melanosporum against T. nigrum, and to reject the names T. albidum and T. cibarium (Ascomycota: Pezizomycetes)
No full textThe Alpine Botanical Garden of Campo Imperatore (Gran Sasso, Italy)
No full textThe Alpine Botanical Garden of Campo Imperatore, located in the Gran Sasso massif, at 2280 m a.s.l., accomodates the main peculiar species of the regional mountainous flora. Founded in 1952 by the botanist Vincenzo Rivera, it is situated in the Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga National Park. The Garden, managed by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali, ex- A.S.F.D. L'Aquila and the Department of Environmental Sciences - University of L'Aquila, represents a living museum specialised in the biological education and in the conservation of regional flora
- …
