The NATURALLY project team had an eventful summer! Our days were packed with analyses, publications, reports, and fieldwork. We also juggled applying for new projects and forming collaborations, keeping every moment occupied over the past few months. Amidst all this, there was continuous learning, both officially with exams and unofficially, which we absolutely enjoy! We also spent time preparing for conferences and gatherings because, let’s be honest, we have a passion for travelling and presenting our work! All of these activities were intertwined with precious moments of socializing with our colleagues and friends,
something we absolutely adore! However, as a result of our busy schedule, we’ve been less active in the virtual world, writing fewer posts and taking fewer photos. Instead, we’ve added more tasks to our ‘to-do’ list. But there are so many beautiful experiences we’d love to share with you!
One of these beautiful new stories is the visit of the PhD student Mara Rondolini from the University of Perugia in Italy to our laboratory. At the age of 27, Mara possesses a deep passion for merging laboratory work with nature, with her ultimate goal being the cultivation of white truffles. Her ambition is no small feat; it requires substantial efforts, but it’s also a fascinating journey of scientific discovery. We immediately liked her! Both cool Mara and cool science 😉
Mara and her mentors, in collaboration with various institutions in Italy, Serbia, and Croatia, aim to investigate the conditions and techniques required for cultivating truffles in natural ecosystems and agricultural settings to promote coastal biodiversity. But what does this precisely entail?
The white truffle (Tuber magnatum Picco) is the rarest and most highly prized underground mushroom globally, primarily found in natural environments across Europe, where it forms symbiotic relationships with various woody plant species like oak, willow, poplar, and others. The cultivation of white truffles is significantly more intricate and less successful than other truffle varieties, such as the black truffle. The exact reasons for this disparity remain a
mystery. Part of the explanation undoubtedly lies in the highly specific ecological conditions required for the growth of this species, and these unique requirements have yet to be fully
characterized and understood. Mara, along with numerous researchers worldwide, continues the quest for a successful
formula for cultivating white truffles—an intricate combination of soil conditions, climate, vegetation, and other crucial factors that impact this delicate truffle. Multiple studies highlight the significant influence and active role of microorganisms in the white truffle’s life cycle, making microbiome analysis an essential component of this research. Our laboratory focused on analyzing the soil microbiome, a pivotal aspect of the study. Mara collected soil samples from various locations characterized by different environmental conditions, intending to employ diverse analytical methods to compare soil conducive to truffle growth
with less favourable soil. All this aims to uncover that elusive, essential factor crucial for the truffle’s existence! Isn’t that fascinating?
In our laboratory, we isolated DNA from different soil types, subjecting it to sequencing to identify the organisms that, alongside various soil and environmental parameters, either
facilitate or hinder the truffle’s life. These analyses are still ongoing, and upon concluding the research, we hope to unravel at least part of this intricate puzzle. We extend our best wishes
to Mara, who will return to our team at the end of the year. For those interested in this topic and the continual assembly of new pieces in the mosaic of the white truffle’s secret life, you can follow our progress on our social media channels.
Lastly, you might be wondering about the connection between invasive plants and white truffles. Well, there is indeed a link! Since everything in nature is interconnected within the magical cycle of life, our story shares a common thread in this chain of existence. To elaborate, new theories suggest that a significant portion of plant invasiveness is attributed to the microbiome. That’s why we plan to apply the knowledge and demanding laboratory protocols we’ve gained from soil analysis to our study of invasive plants.
