Tuber borchii, commonly known as the Bianchetto or Whitish Truffle, is a hypogeous (underground) ascomycete fungus belonging to the family Tuberaceae. Unlike the highly specific Tuber magnatum, T. borchii exhibits remarkable ecological plasticity, forming ectomycorrhizal associations with a diverse array of gymnosperms and angiosperms, including pines, oaks, hazels, and poplars. The ascocarp (fruit body) is typically subglobose to tuberous, often lobed or irregular, ranging from 1 to 5 cm in diameter, though rare specimens can reach 7 cm. The peridium (outer skin) is initially whitish-pubescent, maturing to a smooth, yellowish-ochre or reddish-brown surface, distinguishing it from the consistently pale T. magnatum.
Native: Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Mediterranean Basin. Introduced: New Zealand, Australia, United States (North Carolina, California), South America. Widespread in Europe; increasingly cultivated globally due to its adaptability compared to other truffle species.
No strains cataloged yet for this species.
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