Argentina, new area for truffle cultivation in the southern hemisphere.

BARROETAVEÑA C., , ,; PILDAIN M.B.; SALGADO SALOMÓN M.E.; AGRIELLO J.J.,; CORTÉS G

Cahors

Workshop; 8 International Workshop of Edible Mycorhizal Mushrooms; 2016

International Iwemm comission

Presentación oralCultivation of Truffles presents an attractive alternative for diversification of regional economies of Patagonia Argentina, mostly concerning small and medium producers. Based on an assessment of soil and climatic conditions in Los Antiguos 46°33′00″S 71°37′00″O (Santa Cruz, Argentina), and the advantage of producing counter season with Europe, the Argentinean Federal Inversion Council supported the cultivation of Tuber melanosporum, T. uncinatum and T. borchii in the region. Here we presented the experience. The climate of Los Antiguos is temperate semi-arid, with annual rainfall of 218.8 mm, seasonal. Valley soils are mostly associations between entic Haploxerolls of different texture, Torrifluvent and Torriorthents, poor in organic matter, very rich in phosphorus with neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Calcium carbonate was added to raise pH to 8. With the cooperation of an independent nursery, Quercus ilex and Pinus pinea seedlings were produced and inoculated with T. melanosporun, T. uncinatum and T. borchii respectively. All seedlings had been inoculated using truffles purchased from Europe, in accord with standard procedures. Four truffle demonstration plots were installed in 2012 and 2013 in different farms. Treatments included Q. ilex inoculated with T. melanosporum and T. uncinatum and P. pinea inoculated with T. borchii. In 2015, plant survival and vigor were recorded, along with mycorrhizal status, counting root tips, making morphotyping and checking with molecular typing. The evaluation showed different situations in each farm, although plant establishment was generally very good. After two years, colonized plant root tips showed that mycorrhiza formation by T. melanosporum was in average 42.5%, from a 26% total mycorrhization; T. uncinatum was not detected but morphotyping and molecular identification revealed the presence of T. melanosporum instead, and T. bochii presented 10% from 28% total mycorrhization. Ten contaminants morpho-species were detected in total, whose distribution will be discussed. Our results show that the experimental plots yield attractive rates of mycorrhiza formation by truffles and suggest that these species are able to be established in Los Antiguos, Patagonia, Argentina.