Australia is the world’s fourth-largest black truffle producer. Now scientists may have unearthed why

Associate prof Gregory Bonito from Michigan State University collecting black truffles in Australia for the study. Photograph: Gregory Bonito/Michigan State University

Black truffles aren’t native to Australia but, since the first oaks and hazelnuts were planted in the 1990s, the local industry has flourished, becoming the largest producer outside Europe.

Now, scientists have identified the environmental factors that appear to have contributed to that success.