Tag: <span>cultivation</span>

Tag: cultivation

Unearthing the Appalachianā€¦or, Can I Lick Your Bottom, canaliculatum. (An important mnemonic device) by Ben Kable

Webinar recorded July 18 2022

As the twinkling of the last star fades
The morning mists arise
The secrets of the forest lie
Beneath their earthly guise

The mossy duff exudes
An ancient aromatic lure
Of reproductive readiness
Irresistible and pure

A bouquet of love, and want and spice
Rivulets arise
Invisible on morning air Belie
A subterranean surprise

The damp silence, split by echoes
The jingle of a dog
The gravel crunches underfoot
In the eastern mountain fog

The huffing puffing quadruped
Detects the ancient scent
His head snaps to, he drops his nose
To find the hunts intent

He circles against the gradient
Of biochemical diffusion
A miracle of mammalian
Olfactory evolution

A cool dawn breeze amongst the trees
The leaves, the spruce duff rustle
A frantic paw pulls back the moss –
The Appalachian truffle

Tuber brumale and other mycorrhizal fungi that may fruit in our truffle orchards by Dr. Christine Fischer

By establishing black truffle orchards, we are introducing a new fungus to our soils and inevitably there will be shifts in the community of soil organisms in the rhizosphere activities belowground, not just Tuber melanosporum. Sometimes our first awareness comes with the appearance of fruitbodies of other fungi such as Tuber brumale, a winter truffle that can be particularly problematic. In this webinar I would like to present some history and approaches to the questions regarding management of T. brumale and other fungi such as Scleroderma sp. and Pisolithus sp. and T. lyonii often co-existing in T. melanosporum habitat.

[Webinar] Christine Fischer: Tuber brumale and other mycorrhizal fungi that may fruit in our truffle orchards

View Recording By establishing black truffle orchards, we are introducing a new fungus to our soils and inevitably there will be shifts in the community of soil organisms in the rhizosphere activities belowground, not just Tuber melanosporum. Sometimes our first awareness comes with the appearance of fruitbodies of other fungi …

Testing your trees for colonization: The Why’s & How’s by Inga Meadows

Truffle farming can be a rewarding experience when truffles are found, but the years between planting your seedlings and before your first harvest can keep you on the edge of your seat! You can take some of the guesswork out of it by having your roots examined for the mycorrhizal association of interest. This webinar will give you an understanding of why and how to have your trees tested, how we do the various tests in the lab, and which truffle fungi we can detect.

Truffle sex & what that means for orchard management & productivity by Shannon Berch

In this presentation, Dr. Sannon Berch reviews four scientific publications (see below) that are available for free download or on the NATGA web site under Resources, Papers. Although it is Shannon’s goal to make the science reasonably accessible for non-scientists, she is explaining biological and mycological phenomena and exploring hypothetical scenarios. The paper by Le Tacon et al. (2016) provides an explanation of what is known and still unknown about how truffle fungi reproduce. Since the end result of this reproduction is the truffle, it is important that truffle growers understand the basics. The paper by Garcia-Barreda et al. (2020) examines how soil and season affect truffle traits like weight and maturity, how the installation of ā€˜nestsā€™ or ā€˜Spanish wellsā€™ alters these responses, and how truffle traits and responses to nest installation differ in different soil types. Making sure there is genetic diversity in the truffle orchard through the application of spores (nests or Spanish wells) could be key to enhancing productivity but under what conditions? The paper by Iotti et al. (2016) explores how inoculation of seedlings in the nursery with mycelium rather than spores might permit the selection of truffle strains with superior characteristics. Only Tuber borchii at present lends itself to this kind of strain selection since it is much easier than most other Tuber species to grow in pure culture. We hope that by the end of this webinar, participants will have a better understanding of how truffles are produced and, using this understanding, be better able to evaluate possible future alterations to how truffles are cultivated.

The need for proper edible mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) cultivation trials: How plantation management impacts yields by Dr. Alexis Guerin

Knowing how plantation management affects the yield of edible mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) is both a new and complex issue. We are virtually inexperienced compared to most other horticultural sectors. EMF production also relies on the symbiotic interaction with host trees. The variable success obtained with truffle cultivation worldwide speaks for itself: a true cultivation remains to be invented. The current lack of knowledge is also a great research opportunity: so much can be learned if only we invest in it. Since no research work has yet addressed this question on truffles, I will present the monitoring of the yield of a mycorrhizal mushroom: saffron milk cap.

Understanding Basic Principles for Black Truffle Cultivation by Christine Fischer

This introductory NATGA webinar will provide a foundation to the science and ecology of Tuber melanosporum. With this knowledge and understanding we are better prepared to evaluate and make decisions for the establishment and management of a Black Truffle orchard from the onset of the inclination to be a truffle farmer through the realization of that dream. A strong foundation helps to inform good practices.