Developing molecular control for fungal inoculum used to prepare inoculated seedlings for black truffle licence 

PI : Claude Murat (UMR 1136 INRA / Université de Lorraine ‘Interactions Arbres / Micro-organismes’)

Collaborations :  Damien Berlureau, gérant, Pépinière AGRITRUFFE (8 rue du portail rouge 33490 Saint Maixant, France), Bruno Robin, gérant, Pépinière ROBIN (Le Village 05500 Saint Laurent du Cros, France)

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Context — Truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi important for the development of trees including several endemic species found in France and Lorraine such as the black truffle of Périgord (Tuber melanosporum) and the Burgundy truffle (T. aestivum / T. uncinatum) which form Hypogeous fruiting bodies with highly valued organoleptic qualities. The truffle experienced a ‘golden age’ at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century but certain social and historical circumstances (rural-urban migration, conflict, etc.) resulted in a progressive loss of expertise and abondonment of fields devoted to truffle harvesting. In the last 25 years about 15-25,000 ha of new truffle orchards have been developed thanks to inoculated seedling protocols developed at INRA and natural truffle fields currently represent 5 to 10% of French truffle production.  Currently, there exists an expertise or know-how licence among INRA and private nurseries (AGRITRUFFES and ROBIN).  The inoculum used for the production of these plants are truffles. Until now the quality control of the inoculum has been determined on morphological grounds. However, some species such as Tuber melansoporum and t. brumale or indicum may have similar morphologies. Progress in molecular biology now allows us to discriminate these various species.

Objectives — To continuously improve the quality of seedlings production of mycorrhizal plants, a research program between INRA and nurserymen partners was set up in 2013.

Approach — ControlTruf aims to develop a molecular protocol for inoculum verification that is robust, fast and economically compatible with the requirements of our private industry partners.  This protocol could pemit verification of 100% of truffles used by our partners benefiting from the most recently available tools in molecular biology.

Results and expected impact — The protocol will be integrated with the expertise licence to compliment existing morphological control of the truffle used as inoculum.  It will impact directly the end-users of the expertise licenced products with its contribute to the improved quality of inoculated seedlings