Trufficulture laboratory

This laboratory provides specialized scientific-technical support in research and development of truffle growing, a sector of great importance in Aragon, as the world's leading producer of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum). Of the 10,000 hectares of black truffle in Spain, 7,500 are located in the Aragonese community, where about 52 tons are produced per year, which would represent 20% of the total global production (Recogida de Setas y Trufas. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2019, from aragon.es).

The lines of research carried out cover all phases of the truffle's biological production cycle, from the production of nursery plants, their management, control of harmful organisms (pests and diseases associated with their cultivation), and the post-harvest phase and conservation technology, which maintains and guarantees the preservation of their aromatic potential, as well as obtaining high quality organoleptic derived products and their technological processes.  Research on mycorrhizal techniques and truffle analysis and identification, based on molecular biology and microscopy techniques, is noteworthy.

For this purpose, the laboratory has the following equipment:

• Horizontal laminar flow cabinet: AH-100
• Vertical laminar flow cabinet: PV-199 TELSTAR®.
• Ultrasonic bath : Bandelin SONOREX™
• Thermostatized bath: Memmert
• Three refrigerated culture chambers with peltier system: IPP 500. Memmert
• Phase-contrast microscope: ZEISS Axio Scope.A1
• Stereo microscope: Carl Zeiss™ Stemi 2000-C
• PHmeter: Orion Versa Star Pro. Thermo Scientific
• Thermocycler: Eppendorf Mastercycler®.
• Digital thermoblock: FB15101. Fisher Scientific
• Large volume autoclave: SELECTA 437-G.
• Electrophoresis and gel reading equipment.
• Ventilated mini-centrifuge
• Other standard laboratory equipment

The activity of this laboratory is complemented by a nursery for mycorrhizal plants and an experimental truffle plantation.