New mushroom species found in Chiang Mai

CHIANGMAI, Sept 4 (TNA) – Two new types of truffle was discovered on Doi Suthep, Thailand’s highest peak in the northern province of Chiang Mai as well as Italian white truffle, normally growing in temperate zones. A team of researchers from Chiang Mai University has studies fungi in the north of Thailand for more than 18 years and found more than 60 new species of fungi. One of the researchers, Prof Dr Saisamorn Lamyong said two new truffle species were found, Tuber thailandicum and Tuber lannaense. The former was given the name “White Traffle Thepsukhon” by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Moreover, Italian White Truffle, Tuber magnatum, the most expensive truffle worth 160,000 baht per kilogramme was also found, the first of its kind in Thailand, the country in the tropical zone. The discovery has changed the theory that truffle is normally a mushroom of the temperate zone. The team of researchers at the Faculty of Science continues their studies to develop truffle cultivation, which could be the new opportunity for Thai farming sector in the future to grow truffles for the consumer market. The work has been done for three years and it is likely to take another 5-6 years to the success. The discovery of new truffle species in Thailand has been already published in the international journal, Mycological Progress. (TNA)