The cultivation of oak seedlings inoculated with Tuber aestivum Vittad. in the boreal region of Finland

Salem Shamekh and Tine Grebenc and Matti Leisola and Ossi Turunen (2014) The cultivation of oak seedlings inoculated with Tuber aestivum Vittad. in the boreal region of Finland. Mycological Progress, 13 (2). pp. 373-380. ISSN 1861-8952 (Submitted)

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Abstract

Despite recent findings, truffles are rarely found in Finland. In 2006, we began to explore the cultivation potential of Tuber aestivum/uncinatum in Finland. In 2006–2008, roughly 1,200 Quercus robur seedlings and 200 Q. pubescens seedlings were planted in 20 orchards. We aimed to challenge the Southern European (France) tree provenances of oak seedlings in a boreal climate. Additional winter coverings made up of fabric or plastic and twigs prevented the seedlings’ mortality even when the air temperature was below −30 °C during the second winter. The results showed that the top soil temperature at 15 cm depth has to be above −5 °C to guarantee the survival of seedlings. Q. pubescens was more sensitive to low soil temperatures than Q. robur. Morphological and PCR analysis of root samples collected over 2007–2010 confirmed the presence of T. aestivum in all orchards despite unfavorable temperatures during the winter time. The first T. aestivum sporocarps were found under Q. robur in October 2012 in the orchards established in 2006 on old agricultural land, showing truffle cultivation to be successful in the boreal climate.

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