Genomics of Tuber melanosporum: New Knowledge Concerning Reproductive Biology,Symbiosis, and Aroma Production

Tuber melanosporum Vittad. is the symbiotic ascomycete that produces the Périgord truffle, one of the most expensive foods worldwide. Although basic research on symbiotic ascomycetes lags behind that on symbiotic basidiomycetes, some progress has been made in the last few years on key questions concerning the biology and ecology of Tuber spp. In particular, the recent release of the T. melanosporum genome was a breakthrough that helped improve our understanding of the reproductive biology of this species. It also provided insight into the gene repertoires underlying the symbiotic relationship with host plants and the production of the distinctive truffle aroma. Genome mining has provided mycologists with a plethora of microsatellite markers that may be highly informative for population genetics studies. These recent advances in T. melanosporum research are discussed here in the context of fundamental research questions and the cultivation and marketing of truffle species.