Ectomycorrhizal fungi in pecan orchards and the potential of truffle cultivation in Brazil

Abstract

Studies involving pecan tree have evolved considerably in recent years in Brazil. Pecans were introduced in the country at the beginning of the last century, and became commercially important after the 1960‘s, primarily in the South region. Pecan trees form several ECM associations with mutualistic fungi. Thus, the aims of the present review were to show research data using ECM fungi in commercial pecan orchards in Brazil, present the agricultural and environmental importance of this symbiosis, and show the potential of man-driven mycorrhyzation with pecan, aiming at the production of selected truffles, notably of the genus Tuber, in commercial orchards, a highly profitable economic activity.