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Truffle Association

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In General

It’s important to understand the process and timeframes involved in purchasing truffle-inoculated trees. This is not a decision to rush. Taking the time to do your homework, gather information, and ask the right questions of nurseries can save years of disappointment later.

Truffles are a long-term investment, and problems with seedling quality often don’t become apparent until several years after planting. You don’t want to discover, five or seven years down the track, that the trees in your truffière were not properly inoculated with truffle spores — or not inoculated with the species you intended to grow.

To help growers make informed decisions, the New Zealand Truffle Association has developed a National Standard for Inoculated Seedlings. This standard outlines what growers should expect when purchasing truffle-inoculated trees and provides guidance on best practice. It is available to NZTA members through our website.

Below are some key points to look for when sourcing truffle-inoculated trees.

What should I want in a Seedling?
  • Inoculated (infected) seedlings should be healthy
  • Seedlings should have a stated infection level (tested to a known standard or method – ask for a copy from the nurseryman)
  • The seedlings should be affordable (usually what you pay, is what you get – some quality aspects add cost)
  • The seedlings should have a known DNA tested inoculum. You can test for the presence of good and bad infections, you will not get results for what you don’t test for.

What Do I Not Want?


  • Competing fungi on my plants, for example, fungi such as Tuber brumale, AD fungi and Thelephora; or known pathogens which might kill the fungus or tree.  The testing method should give you confidence.
  • Inferior infection levels (ask for a statement of levels – ask your mycologist for recommended minimum infection levels)
  • The wrong host plant for my specific growing conditions

What Should I Ask the Nursery Person?


  • How to care for my seedling
  • Recommended planting tips
  • Replacement for failed seedlings (will you replace any which die –if yes, what percentage?)
  • How should I care for my fungi (the tree is the host, the fungi grow on the roots)

National Standard for Inoculated Seedlings


The National Standard was developed by an experienced New Zealand mycorrhiza scientist and reviewed by a European peer. New Zealand nurseries and a DNA testing company also provided input.  For best results, purchasers of inoculated seedlings should ask for their seedlings to be independently tested against the benchmark quality criteria in the Standard.

NZTA Seedling Standard Document

Where to get help

Whether you’re considering growing truffles, or just want to learn more about the world of truffles, the New Zealand Truffle Association can help in a number of ways:

  • meet current truffle growers
  • attend our regional meetings
  • come to our annual conference
  • suggest books about truffles

Find out more information of who can help here

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