Potential effect of melanised endophytic fungi on levels of organic carbon within an Alfisol
T. T. Mukasa Mugerwa A B and P. A. McGee A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Macleay Building A12, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: t.mukasamugerwa@sydney.edu.au
Soil Research 55(3) 245-252 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR16006
Submitted: 7 January 2016 Accepted: 16 October 2016 Published: 9 November 2016
Abstract
Levels of organic carbon within agricultural soils in Australia continue to decline predominantly due to intensive cultivation. Such practices place sustainable use of agricultural soils at risk. The aim of the present study was to test whether selected melanised endophytic fungi could enhance organic carbon in an experimental soil. In a compartmental pot study, 20 melanised endophytic fungi significantly increased carbon in an aggregated carbon-rich Alfisol over 14 weeks, with increases of up to 17% measured. Two of these fungi increased organic carbon within microaggregates. This study demonstrates that some melanised endophytic fungi have the potential to increase levels of organic carbon within an experimental soil. Melanin, a polyaromatic compound present within the cell walls of melanised endophytic fungi, may have contributed towards increases in organic carbon, particularly if protected within soil aggregates. Deposition of aromatic carbon within aggregates would leave this carbon less susceptible to oxidation and contribute towards long-term carbon storage in soils.
Additional keywords: aggregation, carbon sequestration, polyaromatics, root endophytes, soil carbon.
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