Pecan trees are known to form ectomycorrhizae with a wide range of fungi, including commercial truffles that can be cultivated in agroforestry systems. Here, we investigated whether pecans can be successfully mycorrhized by Tuber spp. and whether the mycorrhization affects growth parameters and nutrient content of two productive pecan cultivars under southern subtropical conditions. We also sought to define procedures of mycorrhization adapted to the subtropics. The seedlings of two pecan cultivars (Barton and Importada) were inoculated with both Tuber aestivum and T. brumale and grown in a nursery for 12 months. The levels of ectomycorrhizal colonization and the morphological and chemical parameters of the seedlings were analyzed. The proposed mycorrhization protocol was successful, as all truffle-inoculated seedlings exhibited a high percentage of mycorrhized fine roots, on average 70% with T. aestivum and 88% with T. brumale. In both pecan cultivars, mycorrhization by the Tuber species reached levels at which all seedlings would qualify as suitable for commercialization. Notably, the cultivar Barton inoculated with T. brumale exhibited higher total biomass accumulation and growth of roots and shoots. Shoot and root parameters did not show nutrient deprivation. The nutrient status after one year of cultivation in a nursery also supported that the applied protocol was adequate to maintain healthy mycorrhized seedlings with suitable nutritional status for out-planting of seedlings in a commercial plantation. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the mycorrhization of pecan seedlings with European truffles under southern subtropical conditions. Our results suggested that the tested cultivars have a high potential for truffle production considering the necessary substrate, site, and management adaptations for selected commercial truffle species and the requirements for pecan orchards.

众所周知，山核桃树会与多种真菌形成外生菌根，包括可在农林业系统中种植的商业松露。在这里，我们调查了山核桃是否可以被块茎菌成功菌根。以及菌根化是否影响南亚热带条件下两个高产山核桃品种的生长参数和营养成分。我们还试图定义适应亚热带的菌根化程序。两种山核桃品种（Barton 和Importada）的幼苗接种了Tuber aestivum和T. brumale并在苗圃中生长 12 个月。分析外生菌根定植水平和幼苗的形态和化学参数。提议的菌根化方案是成功的，因为所有接种松露的幼苗都表现出高比例的菌根化细根，平均 70% 的T. aestivum和 88% 的T. brumale。在两个山核桃品种中，块茎物种的菌根化达到了所有幼苗都适合商业化的水平。值得注意的是，栽培品种 Barton 接种了T. brumale表现出较高的总生物量积累和根和芽的生长。芽和根参数没有显示营养缺乏。在苗圃种植一年后的营养状况也支持所应用的方案足以维持健康的菌根幼苗，并具有适合商业种植园外种苗的营养状况。据我们所知，这是南亚热带条件下欧洲松露山核桃幼苗菌根化的第一项研究。我们的结果表明，考虑到所选商业松露物种的必要基质、场地和管理适应性以及对山核桃果园的要求，测试品种具有很高的松露生产潜力。