Tuber melanosporum Vittad. abundance and specific soil parameters predict soil enzymatic activity in wild and managed truffle producing systems

Soil microorganisms are able to produce extracellular enzymes and are crucial for ecosystem processes like decomposition and nutrient cycling. The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) is a highly valued ectomycorrhizal edible fungus. It exerts a strong allelopathic effect, creating a burnt are...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Barou, Vasiliki, Zabal-Aguirre, M., Parladé, Javier, Rincón, Ana
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/380404
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/380404
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85214337343
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Black truffle producing systems
Carbon cycling
Nutrient cycling
Soil enzymatic activity
Soil fungi
Tuber melanosporum
Descripción
Sumario:Soil microorganisms are able to produce extracellular enzymes and are crucial for ecosystem processes like decomposition and nutrient cycling. The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) is a highly valued ectomycorrhizal edible fungus. It exerts a strong allelopathic effect, creating a burnt area around the host tree that impacts soil biotic and abiotic properties, and likely affects soil functioning as well. This study investigated the influence of black truffle abundance on soil functions, at different seasons and truffle-producing systems. A regional field design was set up in black truffle productive plantations and forests across the natural distribution area of this fungus in Spain. Physico-chemical soil properties, potential soil enzymatic activities related with carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen cycling, and soil fungal richness and abundance were determined. Black truffle-producing forests generally exhibited lower enzymatic activity compared to plantations, except for chitinase. Besides greater soil enzymatic activity —mainly related with rapid carbon and nitrogen turnover— was observed in late spring than autumn, independently of the type of truffle producing system. Our findings revealed a significant negative impact of black truffle abundance on soil enzymatic activities, and particularly on those involved in carbon and nitrogen mobilisation. Besides the strong local site effect, other biotic and abiotic factors differently impacted soil functioning in truffle forests (Mg) and plantations (Ascomycetes richness, CaCO3, Na). These results offer insights into the ecology and functionality of host-truffle-soil interactions and provide valuable information for optimising management practices in black truffle plantations.