Trained “truffle dogs” have recently assisted researchers in identifying two new species of truffles in the U.S., according to a recent study.
Truffles, prized in luxury cuisine, are the fruiting bodies of fungi from the Tuber genus. These fungi grow underground in a symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees like oak, pine, and hazelnut. Though these fungi can be cultivated in orchards, they often go unnoticed due to their subterranean nature.
To explore the diversity of native North American Tuber species, researchers, led by Gregory Bonito from Michigan State University, have relied on specially trained dogs capable of detecting the scent of ripe truffles. These dogs help sniff out the truffles, and their handlers collect samples, which are then analyzed to uncover new species.
Through detailed morphological and genetic analysis, the team identified two new species:
Tuber cumberlandense: Named after the Cumberland Plateau in the eastern U.S., where most of the samples were collected by truffle dog Luca and her trainer, Margaret Townsend. This species grows in both truffle orchards and woodlands. Although it resembles other known North American truffles, it has distinct differences, such as a wrinkled outer lining, spiny spores, and a pungent aroma.
Tuber canirevelatum: This species was named in honor of truffle dogs for their role in the discovery process. It was found by dog Monza and her trainer, Lois Martin, in a Tennessee municipal park. It has a dark color, large warts on its outer lining, and honeycombed spores. Its aroma is notably pleasant.
Though truffles from Europe, such as the black and white truffles, dominate the commercial market, several species grow in North America, including the Oregon white truffle (Tuber oregonense). However, much of North America’s native truffle diversity remains underexplored.
Bonito emphasized that new species are continuously being discovered. While the conservation status of these newly identified species hasn’t been formally assessed, T. canirevelatum may be rare, having been found only once so far.
This study highlights the valuable role of truffle dogs in uncovering the hidden world of underground fungi.
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