Truffle cultivation in Sicily

"Covering two hectares, we are the first nursery in Sicily to produce mycorrhized plants for truffle cultivation. Our passion led to us acquiring considerable experience in the field," explain Giovanni Merlo and Destrino Giuseppe Papia.

Giovanni Merlo and Destrino Giuseppe Papia

"We invest a lot on research focusing on innovation, on choosing mycorrhization methods to produce plants with roots that are already colonised with truffle spores and on improving the quality of our products," explain the two owners of Tartufi Montalbano together with Giuseppina Montalbano.

"People tend to think truffles are wild and difficult to grow, but it's not exactly so. They can be cultivated in 'truffle beds' with mycorrhised plants. We can produce something like 200 kg of black truffles a year, which are then commercialised in Italy, Belgium and the UK."

Truffle cultivation is very delicate and complex and is based on planting mycorrhised plants in suitable soil. Truffle cultivation started in France in 1800. Over the following decades, numerous studies created the scientific and technical bases for the rational and commercially viable cultivation of the most demanded truffle species.

The nursery produces 10,000 plants used to grow truffles

Three species are grown in Sicily: summer black truffles (Tuber aestivum Vittad. 1831), which fruit between May and June and can be sold in autumn and early winter as well (Uncinatum Chatin variety), winter black truffles, known scientifically as Tuber brumale Vittad., and whitish truffles (Tuber borchii Vittad.).

"Plants are produced directly by the company and are grown in greenhouses, so quality can be monitored throughout their development. They are placed in a controlled environment protected against antagonist pollutants, so the product is of high quality with a high degree of mycorrhisation. The soil undergoes a sterilisation process with steam at 120°C so as to eliminate spores and fungi naturally found in the ground without altering its structure."

Mycorrhised plants are produced with indigenous seeds and truffles to safeguard the germoplasm of Sicilian species and avoid adaptation problems during the first phases.

The plants chosen for the various truffle species are: Holm oaks, downy oaks and stone pines. They are combined with the most representative truffle species: summer black truffle, burgundy truffle, melanosporum and whitish truffle.

Contacts:
Azienda Tartufi Montalbano
Sede operativa:
C/da Cappuccini s.n.c.
92010 - Burgio (AG) - Italy
Tel.: +39 320 6318189
Email: info@tartufimontalbano.com
Sito web: www.tartufimontalbano.com