Research projects
The cultivation of truffles is still in its early stages as an agricultural crop, with plenty of room to improve techniques that Will enhance fungal development and extend the productive lifespan of plantations.
At MicoLab, research is a cornerstone of our work. It enables us to provide high-quality guidance and accurate, project-specific recommendations. That’s why we invest both time and resources into collaborative research projects, as well as our own independent studies in key areas in areas that directly impact the productivity and profitability of plantations.
We also offer tailored research services, combining our on-the-ground expertise with collaborations from research institutions to deliver effective, customized solutions.
Below you’ll find a selection of our most important ongoing research projects.
TECNOTRUF: Technological innovation for smarter, more profitable truffle cultivation.
TECNOTRUFÂ is a project focused on developing new technological procedures based on the monitoring of ecological variables to optimize the productivity of truffle plantations and improve the marketing of their derived products.
The project is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). It is led by the Cluster for the Efficient Use of Water (ZINNAE) and involves several private-sector partners with expertise in truffle farming—MYTRUFF, QILEX, and MicoLab—alongside the research institutions Aula Dei Experimental Station (EEAD-CSIC) and CITA of Aragón, the technology firms ARATECK, GEOSLAB, and ACG DRONE, and the Aragon Food and Nutrition Cluster.
Eco-physiological monitoring stations have been installed in three highly productive truffle orchards to track the oak–truffle system, and multispectral drone technology is being used to monitor tree canopy development. The collected eco-physiological, mycorrhizal, and production data will be integrated into a digital platform. The ultimate goal is to develop a pilot project for agronomic management that includes the valorization of by-products and a traceability system.
In addition, the project includes an innovative device that will allow truffle growers to monitor key environmental and physiological variables—applying plant sensing technology for the first time to optimize water use in oak truffle plantations.
The project has a budget of €599,114.11 and will run for three years. It is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (80%) and MAPA (20%).
Substrate and spore inoculum improvement for truffle nests (Spanish wells)
At MicoLab, we partner with Gramoflor Ibérica, Mytruff, and Viver Truficultura to enhance the quality of truffle nest substrates and the efficiency of their use in the field.
The goal is to better understand how substrate inputs work in order to develop formulations tailored to different soil types and cultivation practices. Improving truffle quality and yield depends on the efficient and optimal use of resources, as well as finding the best solution for each client.
In the long term, these studies will enable us to provide customized solutions and advise on the most suitable management strategies for each case—including the efficient use of irrigation water.
Cover crop studies
Soil management is one of the main challenges in truffle growing. In Europe, tillage is the traditional method, especially in young plantations. However, this practice can lead to soil degradation and a loss of key nutrients needed for the development of both the truffle and its host tree.
At MicoLab, we’ve been conducting long-term studies for nearly a decade on how to improve and maintain truffle soils by using different types of cover crops, selected according to each soil’s specific physical and chemical characteristics.
We are currently researching how to identify the most suitable seed mixes for different soil types and management systems. These permanent or seasonal cover crops are being compared with tillage and other ground cover strategies to determine their effectiveness.
Monitoring and improvement of high-yield Tuber melanosporum plantations
What makes a truffle plantation exceptionally productive? Many countries have truffle orchards with exceptionally high Tuber melanosporum yields. At MicoLab, we’ve spent over a decade studying these highly productive truffle plantations, identifying shared patterns in soil characteristics, climate conditions, and management practices.
After years of research and hundreds of data points, we’ve identified key trends that help us adapt soil improvement strategies and management techniques to ensure truffle plantations perform at their highest level.
These studies are ongoing. Every year we incorporate new sites, and we now monitor over thirty long-term plots where we track mycorrhizal development and soil conditions. In these orchards, we also run experimental trials to enhance already outstanding yields, extend the productive lifespan of the plantations, and improve truffle quality.
Understanding and managing wild Tuber melanosporum habitats
Where and why do highly productive wild Tuber melanosporum sites appear? How do they function? In what ways do they resemble cultivated orchards, and how do they differ? How does their productivity evolve over time?
Studying natural black truffle habitats with high yields helps us better understand plantation dynamics and anticipate their behavior.
These wild soils highlight the complexity and variability of factors that support high truffle productivity. At MicoLab, we explore wild truffle areas across Spain to characterize these habitats, mainly focusing on truffle soils, as a means to deepen our knowledge and apply it to orchard management.
Characterization and management of wild and orchard Tuber aestivum sites
While winter black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is currently the most profitable option in most viable truffle-growing regions, summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) cultivation can be an attractive alternative in certain cases. There are several reasons to consider establishing a summer truffle orchard: areas with extremely cold winters, the opportunity to extend the harvesting season for truffle tourism businesses, or as a way to continue training and exercising truffle dogs in spring and summer.
However, there is still a lack of knowledge surrounding key aspects of this species, from suitable soils and climates, to the environmental triggers for fruiting and development, and even why in some areas the fruiting season lasts for months, while in others it is brief and sporadic.
To address this, MicoLab conducts long-term monitoring of a network of wild truffle areas and orchards. Â These plots serve to monitor growth dynamics and experiment with management techniques in collaboration with our clients, in order to uncover the keys to successful cultivation.
In parallel, we continue studying the species’ biological cycle, using DNA testing to identify truffles and evaluating their spore maturity and quality at each study site.
Assessment of wild desert truffle (Terfezia claveryi) habitats and plantation trials
Desert truffles (Terfezia claveryi) are in high demand, particularly in Middle Eastern countries, making them an attractive crop despite the fact that successful large-scale cultivation is yet to be achieved.
To make cultivation viable in the long term, it is essential to understand the soils and climates where these truffles grow naturally, as well as to clarify their annual cycle and how it relates to rainfall and temperature patterns.
At MicoLab, we provide technical guidance and collaborate on the development of several test sites. We have also studied wild desert truffle sites in Spain to help define the soil and climate ranges suitable for cultivation.
We continue to research this species’ biological cycle, the quality characteristics of spore inoculum, and management techniques in plantations. We remain hopeful that successful and profitable cultivation of this truffle will become a reality soon.
Fertilizers, amendments, and other soil enhancements
One of the main challenges in truffle cultivation is improving soil quality and tree nutrition through external inputs. To date, little is known about the effects of applying different products either to the brûlé or as foliar treatments.
At MicoLab, we are conducting a research line using trial plots where we monitor truffle yield, soil parameters, and mycorrhizal development following the application of different inputs. These products are selected based on tree health, soil type, and the levels of soil micro and macronutrients.
Other studies
We are conducting several small-scale studies, including the application of mulches and soil protectants, monitoring mycorrhizal development and plant growth in sandy soils, assessing truffle production in decarbonated siliceous soils, and evaluating the use of spore-based inputs, among others.
