Glomalin

Glomalin is a glycoprotein produced abundantly on hyphae and spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil and in roots.

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As a glycoprotein, glomalin stores carbon in both its protein and carbohydrate (glucose or sugar) subunits. It permeates organic matter, binding it to silt, sand, and clay particles. Not only does glomalin contain 30 to 40 percent carbon, but it also forms clumps of soil granules called aggregates. These add structure to soil, and keep other stored soil carbon from escaping.

Glomalin was discovered in 1996 by Sara F. Wright, which she named after the Glomales order of fungii. Glomalin is causing a complete reexamination of what makes up soil organic matter. It is increasingly being included in studies of carbon storage and soil quality.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. "Glomalin: Hiding Place for a Third of the World's Stored Soil Carbon." Originally published in the September 2002 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. Last modified November 18, 2004. Last accessed June 17, 2007.