Effects of temperature and rainfall on fruiting of macrofungi in oak forests of the Mediterranean area

The results of a study on the effects of weather (rainfall and minimum, mean, and maximum temperatures) on fruiting of macrofungi in a number of oak forests of Tuscany (central Italy) are reported. The fungal parameters (total number of species and total number of carpophores) were examined for statistical correlations with annual and seasonal temperature and rainfall and with temperature and rainfall in the 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30-day periods before the date of the sampling. It was found that abundant annual rainfall was necessary for the fungal mycelium to fruit. Spring rainfall in particular seemed to be related to the number of species found in autumn. Rainfall was the main influence on fruiting in the most important fruiting period (autumn). Highly significant correlations were found between the number of carpophores and rainfall in the 30 days preceding sampling.