| Summary: | <i>Tuber borchii</i> is an edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom of considerable economic value. Its cultivation has become popular in recent years, but there are few studies on the factors affecting its productivity. In this work, the ascoma production and the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) community of a <i>T. borchii</i> plantation, established in an intensive farming area where this truffle is not naturally present, were studied. <i>Tuber borchii</i> production drastically declined from 2016 to 2021, and ascomata of other <i>Tuber</i> species (<i>T. maculatum</i> and <i>T. rufum</i>) were found from 2017. Molecular characterization of ectomycorrhizae carried out in 2016 identified 21 ECM fungal species, of which <i>T. maculatum</i> (22%) and <i>Tomentella coerulea</i> (19%) were the most abundant. <i>Tuber borchii</i> ectomycorrizae (16%) were almost entirely confined to the fruiting points. The diversity and structure of the ECM community on <i>Pinus pinea</i> were significantly different from those observed on hardwood trees. The obtained results suggest that <i>T. maculatum</i> (a native of the study site) tends to replace <i>T. borchii</i> through a mechanism of competitive exclusion. Although <i>T. borchii</i> cultivation is possible in suboptimal environments, particular care should be taken to limit competition with ECM fungi more suitable for local conditions.
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