Can We Discover Truffle's True Identity?

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2020-05, Vol.25 (9), p.2217
• Main Authors: Gregorčič, Staša Hamzić, Strojnik, Lidija, Potočnik, Doris, Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina, Jagodic, Marta, Camin, Federica, Zuliani, Tea, Ogrinc, Nives
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ascomycota - chemistry; Ascomycota - growth & development; Authenticity; Barium; Calcium; Carbon; Carbon Isotopes - analysis; Carbon Isotopes - metabolism; Chromium; Classification; elemental composition; Fungi; geographical origin; Isotope composition; Isotopes; Magnesium; Manganese; Metals - analysis; Metals - metabolism; multivariate discriminant analysis; Nutrients; Soil - chemistry; Soil conditions; species; Species classification; Stable isotopes; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Strontium; Strontium isotopes; Studies; Tuber; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules25092217

This study used elemental and stable isotope composition to characterize Slovenian truffles and used multi-variate statistical analysis to classify truffles according to species and geographical origin. Despite the fact that the Slovenian truffles shared some similar characteristics with the samples originating from other countries, differences in the element concentrations suggest that respective truffle species may respond selectively to nutrients from a certain soil type under environmental and soil conditions. Cross-validation resulted in a 77% correct classification rate for determining the geographical origin and a 74% correct classification rate to discriminate between species. The critical parameters for geographical origin discriminations were Sr, Ba, V, Pb, Ni, Cr, Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios, while from stable isotopes O and δ C values are the most important. The key variables that distinguish from other species are the levels of V and Zn and δ N values. can be separated based on the levels of Ni, Cr, Mn, Mg, As, and Cu. This preliminary study indicates the possibility to differentiate truffles according to their variety and geographical origin and suggests widening the scope to include stable strontium isotopes.