Memorias de investigación
Research Publications in journals:
Does the natural ?microcosm? created by Tuber aestivum affect soil microarthropods? A new hypothesis based on Collembola in truffle culture
Year:2014

Research Areas
  • Natural sciences and health sciences,
  • Engineering

Information
Abstract
microarthropods play an important role in fungi dispersion, but little is still known about the interaction between truffle and soil microarthropods. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of the truffle Tuber aestivum to modify soil biogeochemistry (i.e. create a zone of scarce vegetation around the host plant, called a burn or brűlé) and to highlight the effects of the brűlé on the soil fauna community. We compared soil microarthropod communities found in the soil inside versus outside the T. aestivum brűlé with the chemistry of soil collected inside versus outside the brűlé. The study was carried out in three Mediterranean areas, two in Italy and one in Spain. The results confirmed the ability of T. aestivum to modify soil biogeochemistry in the brűlé: pH was higher and total organic carbon tended to be lower inside the brűlé compared to outside. Soil fauna communities showed some interesting differences. Some groups, such as Symphyla and Pauropoda, adapted well to the soil; some Collembolan families, and biodiversity and soil quality indices were generally higher outside the brűlé. Folsomia sp. showed higher abundance in the soil of the brűlé compared to outside. The results suggest that some Collembola groups may be attracted by the fungal metabolites produced by T. aestivum, while other Collembola and other microarthropods may find an unfavourable environment in the soil of the brűlé. The next steps will be to confirm this hypothesis and to extend the study to other keys groups such as nematodes and earthworms and to link fluctuations of soil communities with the biological phases of truffle growth.
International
Si
JCR
Si
Title
Applied Soil Ecology
ISBN
0929-1393
Impact factor JCR
2,206
Impact info
Volume
84
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2014.06.012
Journal number
From page
31
To page
37
Month
SIN MES
Ranking
Participants

Research Group, Departaments and Institutes related
  • Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Defensa y Aprovechamiento del Medio Natural