Morphological, Genetic, and Microbiological Characterization of Tuber magnatum Picco Populations from “Alto Molise”, Central-Southern Italy

Author: mycolabadmin
10/11/2025
View Source

Summary

Italian white truffles from the Molise region were studied to identify unique characteristics that could help verify their authenticity and origin. Researchers examined the physical features, genetic makeup, and microbial communities of truffles from four different municipalities. They discovered that truffles from certain areas share a unique genetic marker not found elsewhere in Italy, and that different populations have distinct microbial communities. These findings could help prevent truffle fraud and protect the reputation of Molise truffles in the global market.

Background

Tuber magnatum Picco (Italian white truffle) is the most highly valued truffle species globally, commanding prices up to 6000 euros per kilogram. The Molise region in Central-Southern Italy accounts for approximately 40% of national truffle production but remains underrepresented in scientific literature. Food fraud and geographical provenance misrepresentation are significant concerns in the truffle market.

Objective

To characterize four T. magnatum Picco populations from municipalities in “Alto Molise” (Agnone, Carovilli, Castel del Giudice, and Pietrabbondante) through integrated morphological, genetic, and microbiological investigations. The study aimed to identify region-specific traits and provenance markers for truffle authentication and traceability.

Results

No significant differences were found in ascocarp weight and maturation degree among populations, though peridium thickness showed overall significant variation without specific significant pairwise differences. Three distinct haplotypes were identified at the SCAR A21-inf locus, with haplotype III found exclusively in Agnone and Carovilli populations, potentially representing a region-distinctive genetic feature. Bacterial communities were dominated by Pseudomonadota and Bacteroidota phyla, with Bradyrhizobium as the most abundant genus; fungal analysis revealed Tuber dominance with additional genera including Exophiala, Tomentella, and Sebacina detected at low abundances. Network analysis identified 142-153 bacterial and 6-18 fungal taxa per population, with most classified as peripheral taxa.

Conclusion

T. magnatum populations from Molise exhibit consistent traits across the region, with the unique haplotype III potentially serving as a region-distinctive genetic marker. Complex and heterogeneous microbial communities, including many unclassified taxa, indicate the need for further investigation. These findings provide a foundation for future research on identifying provenance-specific markers and understanding the biological characteristics of Molise white truffles.

Published in:Microorganisms,
Study Type:Observational Study,
Source: PMID: 41156800, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13102340