In both areas there is a large contingent of meso-hygrophilous species, favoured by the presence of surface water, probably due to the proximity of small springs. There are many putative host plants in both truffières: at Feudozzo (Abruzzo) poplar (Populus tremula L.), oak (Q. cerris), willow (Salix alba L., Salix apennina Skvortsov, Salix caprea L. and Salix purpurea L.), hornbeam (Carpinus

betulus L. and Carpinus orientalis Miller) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.); at Collemeluccio (Molise) poplar (P. nigra and P. canadensis L.), oak (Q. cerris), linden (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.), silver fir (Abies alba Miller), hazelnut (C. avellana) and hornbeam (O. carpinifolia). However, all T. magnatum collection occurred beneath A. alba. The geological substratum is represented by alternating argillaceous sandstone: selleckchem at Feudozzo, the soil has a CaCO3 content ranging from 0.75 to p38 MAPK activity 4.20% and a pH of 6.8-7.8; at Collemeluccio the soil has a CaCO3 content ranging from 1.69 to 2.64% and a pH of 6.8-7.4. As production areas are often of different dimensions and their

productivity varies considerably, in the experimental truffière productive plots of 300–500 m2 were selected on the basis of the confidential indications of their productivity provided by local truffle hunters and their real productivity was established over the three years of the study. A total of 39 plots (9 in Tuscany, 9 in Emilia Romagna, 9 in Molise and 12 in Abruzzo) were

identified and delimited. Details of the pedological and vegetative characteristics of each experimental truffière plot are described in the project website [36–38]. Assessment of truffle production We used trained dogs to assess truffle production every week in the T. magnatum season (September-December) Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease for three consecutive years (2008–2010). The truffles collected were numbered, weighed and recorded for each plot. Experimental layout Soil cores (1.6 cm diameter, 30 cm deep) were extracted using a disposable, cylindrical, polyvinyl chloride tube inserted inside a steel soil borer, purpose-built for this study. A set of 9 equidistant soil cores were taken from each plot along two diagonal lines, excluding a border area of 5 m on each side of the plot to minimize possible edge effects. Sampling was carried out in January 2009, 2010 and 2011 at the end of the annual white truffle season. The soil cores collected from each plot were pooled together to obtain a sample per plot for each year and any root fragments, stones or organic debris were carefully removed using a stereomicroscope. A control soil sample was also collected 200 m outside each experimental truffière from non-productive areas.