Domestication: Preparation of Mycorrhizal Seedlings

Abstract

The first step towards maximising desert truffle production in orchards is to use high-quality mycorrhizal plants. For this purpose, a suitable host plant species should be chosen, taking into account edaphic and bioclimatic conditions and, if possible, it is better to use a perennial species than an annual one. For plant propagation, a photoautotrophic Helianthemum micropropagation system was developed, and the normal culture medium composition was modified by eliminating sucrose, using perlite instead of agar and reducing the NH4+/NO3– ratio according to light intensity. To ascertain the most suitable moment for plant transplantation from in vitro to ex vitro conditions for avoiding plant losses, the probability of plant survival before the acclimation process was estimated based only on a chlorophyll metre SPAD-502 measurement. The maximum survival rate for H. almeriense was established at 28 SPAD-502 units, or its equivalent in total chlorophyll content—1.6 mg/g leaf.