Developments of Mycorrhiza in <i>Quercus acutissimar</i> (Cork Oak) Seedlings Inoculated with Black Truffle<i> </i>(<i>Tuber melanosporum</i>) Mycelial Pure Cultures

<i>Tuber melanosporum </i>(<i>T. melanosporum</i>), which is known as the black truffle, is the most famous edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus with a great commercial interest in the world, due to the expensive delicacies and can develop symbiotically with the roots of various trees and some bushes. <i>T. melanosporum</i> was ascomycete hypogeous fungi, which forms an underground fruitbody. In this study, we infected the seedlings of <i>Quercus acutissimar</i> (cork oak), which is a main forest species grown naturally in DPR Korea, with <i>T. melanosporum</i> mycelium to identify the emerged mycorrhizal association morphologically and molecularly. It was shown that <i>Q. acutissimar</i>, selected as the host species, was compatible with <i>T. melanosporum</i>. One hundred of the <i>Q. acutissimar</i> seeds were allowed to germinate and germination was observed in 84 seeds. Among 84 germinated seedlings, 70 seedlings with relatively good growth were selected and inoculated with <i>T. melanosporum</i> mycelium. Characteristic mycorrhizal structures between <i>T. melanosporum</i> and <i>Quercus acutissimar</i> were observed in 52 seedlings. The identification of <i>T. melanosporum</i> mycorrhiza was based on morphological and anatomical features and confirmed with molecular analyses by PCR. This is the first report on the establishment of the ECM association between <i>T. melanosporum </i>mycelia with <i>Quercus acutissimar </i>seedlings in DPR Korea.