Cultivation and mycelium production from spore suspensions of desert truffles: prospective use as inoculum for host plants in arid zones

Terfezia boudieri Chatin and Tirmania nivea (Desf.) Trappe, the desert truffles, are mycorrhizal fungi that are mostly endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean where they are associated with Helianthemum species. The current study aimed to test the use of the two-culture media, Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Malt Extract Agar (MEA), on isolation, apical growth rate (APG) and the production of wet weight of mycelial biomass (WWMBP) of two Moroccan species of Terfezia boudieri and Tirmania nivea collected respectively from Walidia and Boujdour. For the both species PDA and MEA were the most effective culture media for isolation, apical growth rate (APG) and wet weight of mycelial biomass production (WWMBP). This study demonstrated that PDA growth medium outperformed the MEA for both fungal species with an apical growth rate (APG) of (0.05 ± 0.01) cm/h for T. boudieri and T. nivea in PDA, against (0.04 ± 0.00) cm/h for T. boudieri and T. nivea in MEA. Additionally, the wet weight of mycelial biomass production (WWMBP) was measured using the same culture media (PDA) and (MEA). The wet weight of mycelial biomass produced by T. boudieri and T. nivea were nearly identical in PDA medium. The same result was exhibited for T. nivea in MEA. In addition, the T. boudieri and T. nivea species sown in solid media showed a considerable apical growth rate and wet weight of mycelial biomass production (WWMBP). The success of the cultivation process of T. boudieri and T. nivea will enable the potential use of them as ectomycorrhizal inoculum in reforestation programs with their host plant and ultimately the production of edible mushrooms in the field.