Newly Discovered Truffle Species Candidates for Cultivation

Michigan State University reports that truffle dogs and their handlers have found two new species of truffle in the United States, as verified by scientists at the university. The scientists’ DNA analysis of the truffles shows that they have many compounds similar to valuable European truffles. Associate professor Gregory Bonito says there is increasing interest in cultivating North American truffles, and he notes that the newly discovered species have economic potential. He also notes the key role that trained truffle dogs play in both discovering new truffle species and in aiding with timely detection for cultivated truffles. “Our research reinforces the importance of using trained truffle dogs in tuber research and truffle farming,” Bonito said. “We suspect many native tuber species remain to be discovered and described. This task will be enhanced through the continued collaboration between mycologists — scientists who study fungi — the public and trained truffle dogs.”