Molecular and morphological characterization of Tuber magnatum mycorrhizas in a long-term survey.

Tuber magnatum Pico is an ectomycorrhizal fungus whose mycorrhizas can be barely distinguished morphologically from those of other related white truffles. Here we describe the use of specific primers based on the T. magnatum ITS sequence for screening mycorrhizas from a large number of growth chambers, greenhouse and nursery samples taken in a long-term survey. This molecular identification technique enabled a new morphological characterization to be set up for T. magnatum mycorrhizas.