This study examined the microbial communities in white truffle forests in Italy, comparing an established productive forest with a nearby expanding area. Researchers found that the expanding area had more diverse fungal communities with opportunistic species like Mortierella, while the mature forest had a more stable community dominated by ectomycorrhizal fungi. The study identified specific bacteria like Sphingomonas that showed positive associations with white truffles, suggesting these microbes may play important roles in truffle development and could help guide future cultivation efforts.