Truffles live in an environment poor in oxygen, and are a good model for investigation of enzymatic adaptation to microaerobic
conditions. We studied the antioxidant and glutathione dependent enzymatic endowment of Tuber truffles. Superoxide dismutase,
catalase, glutathione peroxidase Se dependent, glutathione reductase, glyoxalase 1 and glyoxalase 2 are expressed and correlate with
the microaerobic metabolism, growth rate and mycorrhizal symbiosis of truffles. A very low or undetectable glutathione S-transferase
activity was found. For comparison the same enzyme activities were investigated in Agaricus bisporus which is epigeous and non-mycorrhizal.