Truffle forming fungi have mycorrhizal relationships with host trees. Certain types of truffles have gained significant market value outside of farming with some garnering wholesale prices of $500 per pound.

Farmers seeking alternative crops are cultivating truffle farms. Subsequently, a niche market has formed to supply farmers with seedlings inoculated with truffle forming fungi. However, according to a recent article in the New York Times “Starting a truffle farm is a long-term investment with huge risks.” March 1, 2006. Seedlings are expensive as well as other long-term costs associated with truffle farming.

MBT has perfected a molecular biology based method for detecting truffle forming fungi DNA in seedlings and trees in established truffle farms to help farmers mitigate the risks of truffle farming.