Enhancing truffle orchard management: agronomic practices and their impact on yield and crop development—a review

Abstract Truffles are highly valued edible fungi belonging to the genus Tuber which grow wild in symbiotic association with the roots of many perennial plants. Due to their high market value and the decline in wild harvests, the cultivation of several truffle species has expanded and progressed in recent decades, not only within their natural distribution areas but also in other countries. However, the advancement of truffle cultivation has been hampered by knowledge gaps in their biology and by the scarce information on their cultural requirements, resulting in highly heterogeneous productive results in different orchards. To fill the knowledge gap about agronomic practices in truffle cultivation, we reviewed the available experimental studies using a systematic approach. We created a comprehensive dataset of scientifically tested practices, which comprised 43 publications on five truffle species across four different continents, although most studies focus on Tuber melanosporum Vittad. in southwestern Europe. We reviewed the existing information on ten practices applied during the pre-productive stage of truffle cultivation and ten practices applied during the productive stage. In the pre-productive stage, experimental data are more abundant on weed and soil management, highlighting the role of these practices in promoting vegetative growth of the host tree and the fungus. In the productive stage, most studies focus on soil moisture management and show its key role in securing yields of T. melanosporum , although also suggesting long-term risks of sustained intensive irrigation regimes. This review provides guidance to growers in selecting the most effective practices for successful truffle cultivation under diverse environmental conditions in which truffles are cultivated, while pointing out the existing knowledge gaps in pruning and tillage, despite their being widespread practices in both cultivation stages.