Skip to main content
Log in

Characterization of fungal melanins and soil humic acids by chemical analysis and infrared spectroscopy

  • Published:
Biology and Fertility of Soils Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Humic acids from two Brazilian topsoils under savanna grassland and five soil fungal melanins were characterized by elemental, functional group and infrared analysis. C, N, total acidity, COOH, and phenolic OH contents were within the ranges reported for several other fungal melanins and soil humic acids. Compared with the soil humic acids, the infrared spectra of the fungal melanins showed greater detail, indicative of higher aliphaticity. They were similar to the type III infrared spectra of humic acids, which are characteristically high in proteinaceous material and polysaccharides. The infrared spectra of the humic acids from the two Brazilian soils studied were classified as type I, which includes most soil humic acids. Notwithstanding the greater detail, in some areas the fungal melanin spectra were similar to those reported for other fungal melanins and humic acids of different origins. The probable contribution of the melanic fungi to the formation of soil humic polymers is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bondietti E, Martin JP, Haider K (1972) Stabilization of amino sugar units in humic-type polymers. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 36:597–602

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner JM (1965) Total nitrogen. In: Black CA et al. (eds) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2. Am Soc Agron, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 1149–1178

    Google Scholar 

  • Coelho RRR, Linhares LF, Martin JP (1985) Amino acid distribution in some fungal melanins and soil humic acids from Brazil. Plant and Soil 87:337–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Coelho RRR, Linhares LF, Martin JP (1988) Sugars in hydrolysates of fungal melanins and soil humic acids. Plant and Soil 106:127–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Day PR (1965) Particle fractionation and particle size analysis. In: Black CA et al. (eds) Methods of soil analysis, Part 1. Am Soc Agron, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 545–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerazimowicz WY, Byler DM (1985) Carbon 13 CPMA NMR and FTIR spectroscopic studies of humic acids. Soil SCi 139:270–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider K, Martin JP (1967) Synthesis and transformation of phenolic compounds by Epicoccum nigrum in relation to humic acid formation. Soil Sci Am Proc 31:766–772

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider K, Martin JP (1970) Humic acid-type phenolic polymers from Aspergillus sydowi culture medium, Stachybotrys spp. cells and autoxidized phenol mixtures. Soil Biol Biochem 2:145–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider K, Martin JP, Filip Z (1974) Humus biochemistry. In: Paul EA, McLaren AD (ed) Soil biochemistry, 4. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 195–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutjens JLM (1972) Amino acid composition of humic-like polymers produced by streptomycetes and of humic acid from pasture and arable land. Soil Biol Biochem 4:339–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Linhares LF, Martin JP (1978) Decomposition in soil of the humic acidtype polymers (melanins) of Eurotium echinulatum, Aspergillus glaucus sp. and other fungi. Soil Sci Am J 42:738–743

    Google Scholar 

  • Lüdemann HD, Lentz H, Martin JP (1982) Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of some fungal melanins and humic acids. Soil Sci Soc Am J 46:957–962

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin JP, Haider K (1969) Phenolic polymers of Stachybotrys atria, Stachybotrys chartarum and Epicoccum nigrum in relation to humic acid formation. Soil Sci 107:260–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin JP, Haider K, Wolf D (1972) Synthesis of phenolic polymers by Hendersonula toruloidea in relation to humic acids formation. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 36:311–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin JP, Haider K, Saiz Jimenez C (1974) Sodium amalgam reductive degradation of fungal and model phenolic polymers, soil humic acids, and simple phenolic compounds. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 38:760–765

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards LA (1954) Methods for soil characterization. In: Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. Agric Handb 60 US Dep of Agric, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Russel JD, Vaughan D, Jones D, Fraser AR (1983) An IR spectroscopic study of soil humin and its relationship to other soil humic substances and fungal pigments. Geoderma 29:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnitzer M (1977) Recent findings on characterization of humic substances extracted from soil from widely differing climatic zones. In: Soil organic matter studies, 2. IAEA (eds), Vienna, pp 117–132

  • Schnitzer M, Gupta VG (1965) Determination of acidity in soil organic matter. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 29:274–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnitzer M, Ortiz de Serra MI, Ivarson K (1973) The chemistry of fungal humic acid. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 37:229–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Senesi N, Miano TM, Martin JP (1987) Elemental functional infrared and free radical characterization of humic acid — type fungal polymers (melanins). Biol Fertil Soil 5:120–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff (1951) Soil survey manual. Agric Handb 18, US Dep Agric, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson FJ, Goh KM (1971) Infrared spectra of humic acids and related substances. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 35:471–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson FJ (1982) Humus chemistry: Genesis, composition, reactions. John Wiley, New York NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Szegi J, Gulyas (1971) Comparative analysis of the melanin production of microscopic fungi and actinomycetis. In: Studies about Humus Symp 1 Humus et Planta V Prague, pp 121–130

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paim, S., Linhares, L.F., Mangrich, A.S. et al. Characterization of fungal melanins and soil humic acids by chemical analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Biol Fertil Soils 10, 72–76 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336128

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336128

Key words

Navigation