ÉTUDE MYCOLOGIQUE ET BIO-ECOLOGIQUE DE LA TRUFFE BLANCHE DU DESERT (Tirmania nivea Desf. Trappe 1971) DANS LA REGION DE OUED M’YA (OUARGLA, SAHARA ALGERIEN)

Abstract

This study focuses on the bio-ecological study of Tirmania nivea in the region of Oued M’ya (Northern Sahara, Algeria). Mycological description of the species has determined that the hypogeous fungus lives in mycorrhizal with Helianthemum plants (Helianthemum lippii) belonging to the family Cistaceae. The white desert truffle colonizes sandy soils that have slightly alkaline pH and low fertility because of the slight values of mineral and organic matter. The rainfall, which controls the development cycle of the fungus, should be well distributed over time, especially during the months of October–December and/or January.