Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging technology as an effective tool for monitoring post-harvest decay of Tuber aestivum ascomata

Truffles in the genus Tuber are ectomycorrhizal fungi that form hypogeous fruiting bodies of high economic value. In this work, we applied quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (QMRI) to uninjured and injured T. aestivum ascomata stored in refrigerators with two different cooling systems for a period of 17 days. QMRI analysis showed that mass and volume losses were significantly faster in injured ascomata stored in the fan forced fridge. Free water content decreased linearly (1.6-1.8% per day) as well as the longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation times (12-14 ms and 1.2-1.3 ms per day, respectively) and the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) which all have halved during the monitoring time. The estimated residual (dry) mass was nearly constant over the period of investigation. The results demonstrated that QMRI is an effective tool for monitoring post-harvest truffle freshness and residual mass without affecting their integrity. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.