Aim of the Work
42
Aim of the Work
The objective of this work is to study the proteomic variability of the white truffle, in order to define proteomic profiles linked with the geographical area of origin. Truffles are an important ecological resource but are also economically relevant for the high value of their fruiting bodies. Tuber
magnatum represents the most appreciated species, with the highest
economic value within the Tuber genus. Due to its economic value, that is frequently related to the area of collection (Alba, Tuscany, Marche etc.), T.
magnatum is frequently subjected to fraudulent action, such as its
substitution with other species characterized by a lower economic value (for instance Tuber borchii). Despite several attempts that were made to distinguish T. magnatum from other Tuber species (for instance, the ectomycorrhizas) using specifying ITS sequences ( Paolocci et al., 1999, Mello et al., 2001, Murat et al., 2005, Iotti et al., 2012 ) or RAPD analysis (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) (Amicucci et al., 1996), the complete differentiation of Tuber accessions coming from different areas remain uncertain. Genome variability in T. magnatum species is not well known; this could be probably due to low selective pressure since this species has never been cultivated. Some of the main factors that could be involved in the development of the fruiting bodies are the host plant and the environment where the organism grow. Therefore the environment seems to influence the growth of this organisme to a large extent and hence the proteomic approach was selected according to its ability to detect differences in the whole proteome pattern of the fruiting bodies collected in the same developmental stage. To reach this goal, a 2D gel-Mass-Spectrometry approach was used and it allowed the identification of 54
Aim of the Work
43 proteins in T. magnatum among different samples that provide new information for the complete characterization of this not sequenced organism.
