Morphological characteristics of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present as accurately as possible the morphological characteristics of the summer truffle, found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to compare them with the characteristics of the previously described specimens in other countries and regions. Well-developed fruiting bodies of summer truffles (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) were found in oak and beech forests on calcareous soils in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the help of trained dogs. On the basis of a representative sample, composed of specimens, collected during three consecutive truffle seasons, the following were analyzed: shape, size and mass of ascocarps, structure of the harvest, gleba color, size and shape of ascospores. It was found, that predominant geometric shape of their fruiting bodies is ellipsoid with an average mass of 44.3 g. Most acocarps weighed less than 20 g. As the weight of the pieces increases, their frequency decreases, so that ascocarps over 60 g participate in number with only 20 % and by weight with 47.2 % of the total yield. The length of spores ranges from 26.0 to 35.8 μm, with an average of 30.3 μm, while the width of spores varies from 17.2 to 26.1 μm, with an average of 21.3 μm. The Q-shape parameter takes values in a wide range from 1.16, which roughly corresponds to the globular shape, to 1.64 for the distinctly ellipsoidal shape. In sum, the shape and size of the summer truffle ascocarps and spores native to Bosnia and Herzegovina fit the general picture of this taxon.