aggregate stability is due to the production of extraradical hyphae and a soil protein known as glomalin. Glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) have been identified using a monoclonal antibody (Mab32B11) raised against crushed AMF spores. It is defined by its extraction conditions and reaction with the antibody Mab32B11. There is other circumstantial evidence to show that glomalin is of AM fungal origin. When AM fungi are eliminated from soil through incubation of soil without host plants, the concentration of GRSP declines. A similar decline in GRSP has also been observed in incubated soils from forested, afforested, and agricultural land and grasslands treated with fungicide. Glomalin is hypothesized to improve soil aggregate water stability and decrease soil erosion. A strong correlation has been found between GRSP and soil aggregate water stability in a wide variety of soils where organic material is the main binding agent, although the mechanism is not known. The protein glomalin has not yet been isolated and described, and the link between glomalin, GRSP, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is not yet clear. See also Mycorrhiza Ectomycorrhiza Ericoid mycorrhiza Mycorrhizae and changing climate Mycorrhizal fungi and soil carbon storage Prototaxites References Notes George E., K. Haussler, S.K. Kothari, X.L. Li and H. Marshner,1992 Contribution of Mycorrhizal Hyphae to Nutrient and Water Uptake of Plants. In Mycorrhizas in Ecosystems, ed., D.J. Read, D.H. Lewis, A.H. Fitter, I.J. Alexander. United Kingdom: C.A.B. International, pp. 42–47. External links Mycorrhizal Associations: The Web Resource. Section 4: Arbuscular Mycorrhizas. INVAM: International Culture Collection of (Vesicular) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Phylogeny and taxonomy of Glomeromycota Mycorrhizal Literature Exchange Janusz Blaszkowski – Information on AMF Symbiosis Mycology Soil biology