Brescia Truffle Fair Highlights Stalled White Truffle Cultivation Research
Even the 8th edition of the Truffle Trade Fair of Brescia Province goes down in history. A particularly interesting edition, described as a “part of the much more famous agriculture fair,” as stated by Mayor Gianfranco Comincioli.
This edition will be remembered mainly for the return to Puegnago of the renowned wine expert Luigi Veronelli. However, unlike other editions where the truffle sector showcased new discoveries and initiatives especially related to mycorrhization, this year’s event will be remembered for confirming a standstill regarding the “seeding” and the results of the white truffle.
Virgilio Vezzosa’s Statements
The news was announced by Virgilio Vezzosa himself, the “father of Brescia truffle research,” during the conference that practically concluded this edition of the fair, held from November 25 to 26.
“Rational truffle cultivation, understood as planting mycorrhizal plants aiming to produce truffle fruiting bodies, can be considered positive for some species. However, for Tuber magnatum or the fine white truffle, it is considered very disappointing if not outright a failure,”
And when pronouncing these words, surely Virgilio Vezzosa’s heart was heavy, as he watched a part of his latest research fade away, which practically credited him with the success of artificial insemination of the white truffle.
This was a work and research process that took several years and seemed to be on the verge of success last year. Instead, for now, the only white truffles present are and will remain those produced by nature.
Experiments and the Future of Cultivation
“Plantings carried out in recent years with high-quality black truffle have begun producing truffles in many Italian and Brescia locations. The same can be said for other species of truffle,” – continued Vezzosa – “such as Tuber aestivum or scorzone, Tuber uncinatum, and Tuber borchii.”
For the white truffle, however, recent years have seen a pause and reflection. It has become clear that the plantings made over the past years have not met the expectations of the farmers involved in this activity.
“Unfortunately,” – Vezzosa added bitterly – “this happened after several years of waiting, too many, in truth!”
The reason for this failure is likely linked to the various conditions of low competitiveness of the Tuber magnatum mycelium compared to other competing fungal entities.
Despite everything, in the past couple of years, new controlled experiments are underway, representing a new generation that should definitively open the way for the cultivation of Tuber magnatum.
Of course, as always, time will tell whether all of this will be possible and successful.