Truffles Allelopathy

Abstract

Truffles (Tuber sp.) are the underground ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with numerous trees and shrubs. They produce metabolites, which interacts with plants. More than 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and many non-volatile compounds have been identified from various truffles. The VOCs are mixtures of alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ethers, esters, ketones, terpenes, thiols, sulfur compounds, terpenoids and phenolics. The metabolites released by truffles in the rhizosphere are involved not only in host-plant interaction but also in other interactions viz., defence or competition with other organisms. Some metabolites are phytotoxic to non-host plants in the barren zone around or near the host plant, where the vegetative cover is scarce. The volatiles released by the fruiting bodies inhibited the development (seed germination, root morphogenesis, plant hormonal balance, hypocotyl leaves size, and also induce strong bleaching of the seedlings) of neighbouring plants. In the barren zone, there is high toxicity from native rhizospheric microflora as indicated by the inhibition.