Author
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Wright, Sara |
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Submitted to: Plant and Soil
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: A recent discovery shows how important one group of soil microorganisms is to soil health and sustainability. These microorganisms are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. They grow on living roots and produce large amounts of glue on hair-like structures that extend into soil. The glue is very unusual and was discovered only six years ago because an antibody was produced that reacts with the glue. We are able to use this antibody as a tool to reveal the glue, named glomalin, on the hair-like structures of the fungus, on plastic that the fungus grows over, and on soil aggregates. This paper describes the methods used to visualize the glue on these surfaces and shows examples. Research on glomalin will have a major impact on our knowledge of soil health and sustainability. We can learn to manage the fungus that produces the glue and define ways to improve soils for the present future generations throughout the world. Technical Abstract: Studies on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soil have been aided by the use of a monoclonal antibody that detects a molecule produced by all isolates studied to date. The molecule, glomalin, is a glycoprotein that forms on hyphae but apparently slough off and adheres to soil particles and plastic material imbedded in soil. An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assay is described for glomalin on hyphae attached to roots, hyphae traps, and on the surface of soil aggregates. Small sieves are used to process hyphae attached to roots and soil aggregates. Glomalin and hyphae attached to plastic or nylon are assayed on 1 cm2 sections. Examples of IF assay results are shown and discussed. |
