AMF HELPS IN CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN SOIL

AMF form symbioses with most Vascular plants, which may enhance plant growth, while converting the products of photosynthesis to refractory organic matter. The glomalin released after its hyphal death also helps bind soil particles to form soil aggregates, Thus soil aggregation may further contribute to long-term carbon storage by protecting soil organic matter from oxygen and microbial decomposers. Particularly in the future, under elevated CO₂ concentration AMF have shown increases in growth. Scientists expect that AMF can play a significant role in soil carbon sequestration. However, The research results recently did not agree with the traditional view, because of the "priming effect", when CO₂ concentration increased, AMF probably gives more chance for saprotrophs to acess the nutrient substance, and rapid removal of newly released NH₄⁺, thus releases saprotrophs from metabolic repression, resulting in degradation of the added substrate and of additional organic matter in the soil. This paper reviews the current research progress of soil carbon-sequestration-related AMF, summarizes the role of AMF in carbon sequestration in soil, and puts forward many issues need to be further clarified.