Tuber Tale
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Truffles are fungi that attach to a plant's roots and, as they grow, form a growth underground. Potatoes are vegetables that also create a mass on the roots of a plant underground. Both of these are referred to as tubers as, unlike carrots, parsnips, beetroots and turnips, they do not have a centralised tap root, and multiple tubers can form on one set of roots.
Details
Truffles are fruiting bodies of the fungi family, much like mushrooms. However, mushrooms grow on top of the soil while truffles grow below. Technically, a truffle is not a mushroom because of this.
Potatoes form from a seed potato. The seed potato grows roots, and new potato tubers develop off these roots. Truffles form on the root of a host plant. In the wild, the fungi attach themselves to the root and partner with the tree to grow a truffle. Saplings must be inoculated with truffle spores before planting to be grown commercially.
Store-bought potatoes are less successful in growing potatoes as they are treated with a sprout inhibitor to inhibit the growth of eyes. This makes them less likely to develop into a potato plant. Seeded potatoes are not treated with an inhibitor and, therefore, will produce plants. There is an Australian certification for seeded potatoes.
Australia does have native truffles, a fruiting fungus that grows underground, but they do not have the prized characteristics of the European truffles. Wildlife eats a lot of Australian native truffles. One of the staples of the diet of the long-footed potoroo is a native truffle. You must plant specially inoculated trees to grow European truffles in Australia. Like the seeded potatoes, we have an Australian certification for truffle-inoculated seedlings.