Mycelium growth stimulation of the desert truffleTerfezia claveryichatin by β‐cyclodextrin

Abstract

The commercial value of Terfezia claveryi, an edible desert truffle with important gastronomic, nutritional, and antioxidant properties, has led to growing interest in its cultivation. The erratic and slow growth of T. claveryi mycelium in vitro represents an impairment to obtain mycorrhizal plants, and it makes necessary to find a new culture medium able to overcome these drawbacks. In this work, we analyze the effect of cyclodextrins (CDs) on the growth of T. claveryi mycelium. Different parameters, including colony diameter, growth rate, and colony fresh weight, were evaluated, both in the presence and absence of these encapsulant agents. The results obtained confirm the ability of CDs to stimulate the growth of T. claveryi mycelium when present in the culture medium. A similar effect was observed when CDs were added to the culture medium of Tuber melanosporum. Three natural (α-, β-, and γ) and two modified (hydroxypropil-β and methyl-β) CDs were assayed. The best results were obtained with β-cyclodextrin, but no improvement was observed with its chemically modified derivatives. CDs complex the different compounds present in the culture medium which impair mycelial growth.

Bioecology and Uses of Desert Truffles (Pezizales) in the Middle East

“…Navarro-Rodenas et al [29] suggested that the ascocarp of T. claveryi may, at some development stages, become independent on nutrition from the host plant. In vitro, Lopez-Nicolas et al [30] confirmed the ability of the compound βcyclodextrin to stimulate the mycelial growth of T. claveryi. Slama et al [7] succeeded in the cultivation of Terfezia boudieri in the field, using the mycorrhizal plant of Helianthemum sessiliflorum in gypsy and sandy loam soils after one year.…”

Solubility, photostability and antifungal activity of phenylpropanoids encapsulated in cyclodextrins

“…3). This increase could be probably attributed to the fact that HP-b-CD acts as a carbohydrate source for fungi (Del Toro-Sanchez et al, 2010) or encapsulates substances produced by fungi that self-inhibit the mycelium growth (López-Nicolás, Pérez-Gilabert, García-Carmona, Lozano-Carrillo, & Morte, 2013). We should note that the chemical structure of CDs (hydrophilic nature and bulk volume) do not allow them, neither their inclusion complexes, to permeate biological membranes (Loftsson et al, 2005).…”