Abstract
Humic acids from four Brazilian topsoils of different origin and four fungal melanins, synthesized under two cultural conditions were subjected to a two step hydrolysis procedure and the released monosaccharides qualitatively and quantitatively determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The neutral sugars, glucose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, xylose, fucose, rhamnose and the alcohol sugar inositol, were detected in most of the soil humic acid samples. The fungal melanins showed the presence of glucose, galactose, mannose and arabinose. Ribose was present in two out of the eight samples tested. Some quantitative differences in the two types of humic polymers were noted and expected considering their origins. However, similarities were more apparent than differences and give further indication that melanic fungi may play a significant role in the formation of soil humic acids.
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Coelho, R.R.R., Linhares, L.F. & Martin, J.P. Sugars in hydrolysates of fungal melanins and soil humic acids. Plant Soil 106, 127–133 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371204
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371204