BACKGROUND
The results of Christina Wedén's Master of Science thesis in 1998 (Wedén & Danell, 1998) showed that the Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivumsyn. T. uncinatum) was well adapted to the island of Gotland, off the Swedish East coast. During the autumn of 1998 further large collections were made on Gotland (Wedén & Danell, 1999). In March 1999 I started the PhD project Ecology, population studies and cultivation of Tuber aestivum (syn. T. uncinatum) in Sweden. The project is a cooperation between the Agricultural University of Sweden (SLU) and the University College of Gotland (HGO). The project is a part of the Edible Mycorrhizal Mushroom Research Group at the Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, SLU.
AIM
One aim of the project is to investigate the distribution of the naturally occuring Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivumsyn. T. uncinatum) on Gotland and the Swedish mainland. Other aims are to describe its biotopes, spore dispersal and gene flow. The goal is also to make cultivation of Tuber aestivum (syn. T. uncinatum) possible in Sweden, with Swedish tree and truffle material.
SCIENTIFIC HYPOTHESES
The hypothesis is that Tuber aestivum (syn. T. uncinatum) also exists on the Swedish mainland and that the populations on Gotland are more closely related to mainland populations, than to populations in Southern and Central Europe. Further, I shall investigate the hypothesis that there is a gene flow between the populations on Gotland. Another possibility is that they are isolated relics from the hot Bronze age. Since Tuber aestivum (syn. T. uncinatum) have shown to be well adapted to Gotland, experimental cultivations will answer the question if truffle cultivation is possible in Sweden.
Christina Wedén planting
oak and hazel seedlings for
Burgundy truffle production
on Gotland, June 1999.
