Abstract

"In forest ecosystems the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in the carbon accumulation by a glicoprotein production named glomalin that participate in the soil aggregate stability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the glomalin content of an andisol of southern Chile under adult and mixed forest and to determine the relationships with fungal and soil chemical characteristics. The study was at two slopes and exposition (NE and SW). The forest vegetation was principally dominated by species that develop ectomycorrhiza, but the underforest species, shrubs and climbers, developed arbuscular mycorrhiza with high glomalin production capacity and with amounts higher than those determined in agroecosystems for the same area. Glomalin concentration in the upper horizon ranged between 44.2 and 46.1 mg g""