Effect of truffle extracts on growth ofChlorella vulgaris

ABSTRACT Truffles are hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi with a complex system of chemical communications and biotic interactions. This study examines the influence of truffle extracts on the growth of the alga Chlorella vulgaris as a model organism commonly employed in pharmacology, food industry and biomonitoring. The study involved sampling of fruiting bodies of black truffles in a number of regions across Russia, over a number of years. The observed differences in truffle condition were used to illustrate a potential correlation between the quality and biological activity of truffles. Methanolic extracts were prepared and added to the culture of C. vulgaris to evaluate the growth of algae using the spectrophotometry methods. For the first time, we demonstrated that truffle extracts had biological activity in terms of the algae C. vulgaris growth stimulation. We observed the effects of short-term and long-term growth stimulation. To date, it can be concluded that there is no direct correlation between the stimulating effects on algae and the state of truffles, place of their sampling, or their quality. Finally, it is crucial to examine biological regulations that operate in complex systems such as truffles. It is suggested that in the near future truffles may become a model system for the study of complex biotic and chemical communications.