Taming the truffle : the history, lore, and science of the ultimate mushroom
The most comprehensive practical treatment of the gastronomic treasure to date, Taming the Truffle brings the latest research and decades of experience to enthusiasts and professionals alike, with coverage of the leading truffle areas including France, Italy, Spain, and Asia, and the newcomers: Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.--COVER
304 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 24 cm
9780881928600, 0881928607
128236890
From the past comes the present : Regions of renown ; La grande mystique ; The golden age of truffles ; Magical powers and medicinal virtues
Science to the rescue : Mycorrhiza : an intimate relationship ; Types of mycorrhizas ; Structure of ectomycorrhizas ; Underground warfare ; The collapse of truffle production ; New techniques
Identifying truffle species : A quick lesson in classification, nomenclature, and taxonomy ; Identifying species of truffles ; Périgord black truffle ; Burgundy or summer truffle ; Winter truffle ; Bagnoli truffle or truffe mésentérique ; Smooth black truffle ; Asiatic truffles ; Italian white truffle ; Bianchetto and other pale-coloured European species ; North American pale-coloured truffles ; Oregon black truffles ; Sweet truffle ; Desert truffles ; Inedible and poisonous truffles ; Other species of truffle ; False truffles ; Identifying truffle species from their mycorrhizas ; Identifying truffles using molecular techniques
The habitats of some commercial truffles : Périgord black truffle ; Burgundy or summer truffle ; Italian white truffle ; Bianchetto ; Desert truffles
Establishing a truffière : Competing ectomycorrhizal fungi ; choosing a site for a truffiere ; Soil texture and drainage characteristics ; Soil nutrients ; Site preparation ; Planting density and tree arrangement ; Irrigation system ; competing ectomycorrhizal fungi on nursery stock ; Other plant specifications ; Choice of host plant ; Double cropping and interplanting ; When and how to plant ; Desert truffles
Maintenance of truffières : Maintenance methods ; Working the ground ; Brule ; Herbicides versus soil cultivation ; Soil moisture ; Fertilizers ; Nutrient deficiency ; Plant diseases ; Invertebrate pests ; Truffle pests, diseases, and browsers ; Pruning ; Thinning and the rejuvenation of truffières
The rewards : Le cavage : the harvest ; Regulations and reality ; A time-honoured ritual ; Failure to produce ; cultivation outside of Europe ; Yields ; Prices ; Marketing by fair means or foul ; Truffles without plants? ; The future
Ian Hall and Gordon Brown are New Zealand authors