[Fungal biomass estimation in soils from southwestern Buenos Aires province (Argentina) using calcofluor white stain].
Soil microorganisms are vital for ecosystem functioning because of the role they play in soil nutrient cycling. Agricultural practices and the intensification of land use have a negative effect on microbial activities and fungal biomass has been widely used as an indicator of soil health. The aim of this study was to analyze fungal biomass in soils from southwestern Buenos Aires province using direct fluorescent staining and to contribute to its use as an indicator of environmental changes in the ecosystem as well as to define its sensitivity to weather conditions. Soil samples were collected during two consecutive years. Soil smears were prepared and stained with two different concentrations of calcofluor, and the fungal biomass was estimated under an epifluorescence microscope. Soil fungal biomass varied between 2.23 and 26.89μg fungal C/g soil, being these values in the range expected for the studied soil type. The fungal biomass was positively related to temperature and precipitations. The methodology used was reliable, standardized and sensitive to weather conditions. The results of this study contribute information to evaluate fungal biomass in different soil types and support its use as an indicator of soil health for analyzing the impact of different agricultural practices.
CERZOS-CONICET, CCT-Bahía Blanca, Centro de Recursos Renovables de la Zona Semiárida, Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: mbvazquez@criba.edu.ar.
María B
MB
Vázquez
GEKKO, Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
Martín R
MR
Amodeo
CERZOS-CONICET, CCT-Bahía Blanca, Centro de Recursos Renovables de la Zona Semiárida, Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahía Blanca, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
María V
MV
Bianchinotti
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D001118:Argentina; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D018533:Biomass; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D025301:Hyphae / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C007061:C.I. Fluorescent Brightening Agent 28
Argentinean pampas; Biomasa fúngica; Calcofluor; Calcoflúor; Epifluorescence; Epifluorescencia; Fungal biomass; Región pampeana