Ecology and Distribution of Desert Truffles in Algeria

In this work, field surveys, carried out over 30 years (1986–2016) in three Algerian geographical regions during the desert truffle fruiting seasons, allowed us to locate 61 desert truffles producing sites spread over several bioclimatic zones, to determine the pedoclimatic characteristics of sites and to identify the desert truffle species, their host plants and their natural mycorrhizal associations. This study complements our previous work on the characterization by macro- and micromorphological studies and molecular phylogeny of desert truffle samples collected throughout Algeria. Results revealed that natural production of these desert truffle species is irregular from year to year and closely related to rainfall intensity and distribution, temperature and storm frequency during the fruiting seasons. Nine desert truffle species grow on sandy-loam soils and form endomycorrhizae with Helianthemum spp. on calcareous soils and mantle-free ectomycorrhizae with Tuberaria guttata on acidic soils.