Tuberlinks

TUBERLINKS is a multidisciplinary project that aims to unravel the ecological and physiological interactions within the soil-black truffle-host plant system. The project focuses on the changes that truffle mycelium induces in the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil, and how these alterations influence the ecophysiology of the host tree (photosynthesis, transpiration, water use efficiency).

With this knowledge, TUBERLINKS aims to optimise management practices in truffle plantations and forests—such as irrigation, fertilisation, pruning, and weeding—to improve the sustainable production of this highly valuable fungus.

1. Study the impact of truffle mycelium on the edaphic environment, both physically and chemically and in terms of biodiversity, as well as its temporal dynamics in both wild truffle grounds and plantations. The functional consequences associated with the soil, such as carbon flow and the nutrient cycle, will also be evaluated.
2. Analyse the physiology of trees inoculated with truffles, paying special attention to their physiological performance and their response to water stress conditions (reduced soil water availability and increased atmospheric evaporation demand) and nutritional limitations in the tree-soil system.
3. Adapt truffle management techniques, such as irrigation, fertilisation, and pruning, taking into account the physiological needs of the host tree and the abiotic and biotic dynamics of the soil, with an integrated view of the entire tree-truffle-soil system.

The project is led by:

• ICA‑CSIC (Madrid) – lead partner
• CITA – Aragón
• Agrotecnio

Project PID2022-1364780B-C31/2/3 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 i FEDER/UE