engleski

Truffles in Istria: An overview of their importance for people and ecology

Through the last few decades truffles are the most important non-wood forest product in Istria. Despite this fact almost no scientific research on truffles occurred in that period. The majority of activities around truffles are based in central Istria in Croatia but they are also present in Slovenia at the Northern part of Istrian peninsula. Several species of black truffles are present in the area but the most important commercial species is the white truffle, Tuber magnatum Pico. After they were discovered in 1920’s they become an object of trade which is highly intensified in the last decades. Unfortunately, there are no reliable nor official data that could show the quantities of collected and traded truffles because the trade often goes through illegal channels. Due to this quantities can only be roughly estimated. In the past truffles were not present in Istrian traditional gastronomy while nowadays they are widely consumed in local restaurants and represent an important aspect of local touristic offer. These facts together with their high price lead to an increasing pressure on truffle producing ecosystem which is evidently changing. To contribute to current knowledge of truffle market, we have prepared a review of the species on the current market, the importance and distribution of each commercial species and the additional options and activities related to truffle hunting per se. The trufficulture in Istria has wider importance as reported to date. Beside, this the area has a good potential for additional exploitation and potential cultivation of most cultivable truffle species. At the same time with the global climate change the human influence on truffle producing areas is immense. To ensure the sustainable truffle production and harvest in the future integral research projects at least on the regional (cross-boundary) level are needed to reveal the optimal site productivity and market potential.

truffles; Istria; ecology; economic importance

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