INTRODUCTION IN TRUFFICULTURE IN XIROMERO AREA, GREECE

Abstract

Xiromero region, from Greece, is an area having a quite low agricultural potential because of relatively dry weather conditions during summer and the widespread of the rocky soil. Since, in general the truffle (the underground fungus within the genus Tuber), grow on arid lands, mountains or difficult areas (they can successfully replace others crops, cultured plants which has no productivity in these areas), it have been done experimental cultivations of such truffle in this Greek region. In setting up of the trufficulture in Xeromero it had taken into account the experiences of countries with tradition in this field – Italy and also France and Spain, mainly it were sought data on climatic and geology structure needed for truffle to grow and develop. Five cultivated areas were tested in order to determine the main parameters: pH (7-7.8), CaCO3 (%),Humus (%), total nitrogen (%), phosphorus (%), C/N ratio, etc. Moreover, the prevailing climatic conditions of the area (temperature, humidity, rainfalls, etc.) and studies of the Agrinio weather stations data during the last twenty years, are within the necessary range for cultivate such of truffle crops. A detailed study has been carried out in wild truffle, uncultivated crops, illustrative in different kinds of forests. With the purpose of the possibility of agricultural operations with trruffle it were gathered a lot of available information and indicators.