COMPARISON STUDY OF DESERT TRUFFLES FROM KUWAIT AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR RADIONUCLIDE CONCENTRATION

摘要

Wild mushrooms are used as bioindicators of radiocesium deposition in soil and are used as a reference material for inter-comparison between various geographical regions for such a nuclear fission product [1]. Similar to wild mushrooms, desert truffles are wild species from the fungal kingdom and thus it is expected that elements are absorbed from the soil in a similar manner. Truffles grow naturally in the desert of the Middle East and North Africa. With adequate rainfall in the autumn season, the maturation and collection of the truffle fruit expands 3-4 months after the rainy season in Kuwait. Edible truffles may be available in the desert around February in each year.