Truffle Producing Orchads : a solution to reduce the effects of climate change and soil pollution

Water scarcity, climate change or global warming, and soil pollution are three major environmental challenges facing humans in the world. Evidence suggests that global climate change will affect many of Iran's agricultural climatic variables over the next few decades. However, few studies have been conducted on its effects on crop production nationally. Soil is involved in every aspect of life including food, water, air and health. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that ۹۵% of our food production is directly and indirectly related to soil. Accordingly, soil pollution is a real and very serious health risk. In the northern provinces of Iran, due to the fact that the main occupation of the people is agriculture, on the other hand, the existence of environmental problems such as landfills, urban and industrial wastewater, the soil is severely polluted. Therefore, soil conservation should be a priority in conservation programs. Truffles are hypogeous fungi which live in symbiosis with plant host roots in order to accomplish their life cycle. Some of the truffle species are highly prized as food. This has led to the illegal harvesting of truffles from the Hyrcanian forests over the past decade and subsequent damage to these forests. symbiotic relationship between Ectomycorrhizal fungus (Tuber spp.) and a host plant (Pine, oak, hazelnut and etc) are considered as a solution for soil pollution and climate change in sustainable agriculture for our future. Truffle producing orchards preserve forested lands which prevent soil erosion, pathogenic organism proliferation, and promote overall land conservation. Cultivation of truffles can be a good option to help farmers and local communities, as well as to protect the soil and adapt to climate change. This article reviewed the possibility of producing commercial numbers of Tuber-mycorrhized trees for truffle cultivation.

Keywords:

Truffle producing orchads , climate change , soil pollution