CHARACTERIZATION OF ALPHA PROTEOBACTERIA ISOLATED FROM ASCOCARPS OF THE ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS TUBER BORCHII VITTAD

Truffles are ipogeous fungi belonging to the genus Tuber that establish symbiotic associations with roots of trees. The symbiotic development of mycorrhizal fungi on plant roots has been reported to be influenced by bacteria present in the mycorrhizosphere. Several cultivation studies to characterize the bacterial populations of mycorrhizal fruitbodies have been performed and isolated different bacterial type. In particular, pseudomonads, aerobic spore-forming bacteria and actinomycetes have been constantly isolated within ascocarps or the ectomycorrhizal of Tuber borchii Vittad. A recent study on the natural bacterial community occurring in truffle using molecular methodologies based on PCR and phylogenetics of the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) revealed a significant presence of alpha proteobacteria (Barbieri et al., 2004). In this study we describe the isolation and characterization of alpha-proteobacteria from the ascocarps of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii Vittad. harvested in Central Italy. Isolated strains were characterized by physiological and molecular approaches.