Black truffles are a fungal mushroom that grows in the earth. The fruiting bodies are the reproductive organ of an ascomycete organism, primarily one of the sub-order, the Ascomycota, which is a family of subterranean fungi. The name "black truffles" comes from the pale blue hue that occurs on the surface of their stalks.
Besides being the most popular of all the mushrooms, the truffle salt is also the oldest known. While it has been around for a relatively long time, this mushroom is now endangered. As with all fungi, the fungi thrive on a steady supply of nutrients and, as such, the world is running out of those nutrients. Fungi grow best in warm, moist environments and the destruction of natural resources, including forest fires, has led to an increasing scarcity of those resources.
Fungi are naturally present in the environment and it is only through a human intervention that they are being pushed out of certain areas. The most obvious place where these fungi have been pushed out of is the forest where forests have been destroyed or are growing rapidly, often due to logging. Fungi flourish in dark, moist areas. As the world loses its forests are being cleared to make way for farms, communities, housing developments, roads, parks, etc., more fungi are being driven out of their habitats. The good news is that there are several methods that fungi can utilize to keep themselves alive and, therefore, the fungi continue to grow and spread the fungi' spores far and wide.
Fungi need oxygen and, through the process of photosynthesis, they take carbon dioxide and make it into another substance, namely, carbohydrates. Fungi are the living examples of this chemical process. A fungus is a living cell. Because they are living cells, they use up oxygen and, to make use of their carbon and energy, break down plant material into carbon dioxide.
Because the fungi feed off of plant matter, they create organic matter and, which they use to create food. The more organic matter that the fungi create the better. the fungi have, the better they are able to create a habitat that is conducive to their growth. These organic matter acts are used to form sugars and lignin.
This organic matter is then used to turn lignin into sulfur and hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide then becomes a by-product which the bacteria convert into sulfuric acid. The acid kills microorganisms that might be harmful to the fungi and other fungi that might be trying to reproduce.
Fungi eat the dead microorganisms because they need them for nutrition. They are also eaten because they provide a place to hide. Because of that, there is a constant exchange of waste, including dead microorganisms, and nutrients between the fungi and the bacteria. Since the fungi need these dead microorganisms for a steady supply of nutrients, the bacteria are often eaten by the fungi.
So if you're planning on making your own black truffle salt, be sure to get some organic matter that the fungi need to grow and a safe environment for them to flourish. Be sure to take note of these two items and use them as the main source of energy, but also be sure that the source of the nutrients will not be harmful to the bacteria and fungi.
The only way for bacteria to survive in an unheated environment is through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs in the presence of sunlight. If the sunlight is too strong or it is too much, the bacteria die off and the only source of energy for the bacteria is the oxidation of carbon dioxide, which the fungi can readily consume.
Since the bacteria can't survive without photosynthesis, it is necessary for them to have an environment that can keep photosynthesis going. This requires a dark place to grow, such as soil. Bacteria in dark places need to survive and they are easier to find than fungi, so it is necessary for the fungi to hide in dark places.
Fungi need to eat, but they need to eat healthy bacteria too. In order for the fungi to do well in an environment where they can be a source of food for bacteria and to create energy for the bacteria, the environment must have a source of good, bacteria-rich organic matter. In order for this to happen, black truffles are a great choice.
