Tuber magnatum

R. Balestrini, M. G. Hahn, and P. Bonfante, Location of cell-wall components in ectomycorrhizae of Corylus avellana and Tuber magnatum. Protopla.sma 191 55 (1996). 

White truffle Tuber magnatum Dimethyl sulfide, bis(methylsulfanyl)methane, 176... 

Several sulfur compounds have been detected as volatile constituents of truffles. 2,4-Dithiapentane is a major component of the volatile aromatic compounds of the Italian white truffle, Tuber magnatum. Over 120 compounds have been detected in the black Perigord truffle, T. melanosporum. These include dimethyl sulfide, 2-methylbutanol, 2-methylpropanal and2-methylpropan-l-ol. The nutty and earthy flavour is attributed to anisoles and polymethoxybenzenes. Truffles also produce a volatile steroid, androst-16-en-3-one (7.67), which when more concentrated has an unpleasant smell. The combination of these compounds produces an odour that is a powerful animal attractant. The capacity of animals to detect the presence of underground black truffles by these substances has been evaluated by burying samples of the different compounds. The animals located the dimethyl sulfide lure as well as the black truffle flavouring. 

For the white truffle study the researchers investigated the VOC emissions from 18 white truffles Tuber magnatum Pico) selected from six regions in Italy (three from each region). The VOCs used in this headspace analysis were methanol (protonated peak at m/z 33), acetaldehyde (m/z 45), ethanol (m/z 47), methanethiol (m/z 49), dimethyl sulfide (m/z 63), dimethyl disulfide (m/z 95 -I- 79 ), dimethyl sulfoxide (m/z 79), dimethyl sulfone (m/z 95), bis(methylthio)methane (m/z 61 ), 2(3//)-furanone + dihydro-3,5-dimethyl (m/z 115),... 

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