The term “Glomalin” was originally used to describe a hypothetical gene product of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that was assumed to be a nearly ubiquitous, thermostable and highly recalcitrant glycoprotein, deposited in soils in large amounts, and deemed to indicate soil health and quality. It was defined operationally as the fraction of soil organic matter (SOM) extractable by a hot citrate buffer and assessed either by Bradford assay or by cross-reactivity with monoclonal antibody MAb32B11. Later, it was recognized that the extracts contained a variety of compounds, including some of non-AMF origin, cross-reactive with both Bradford assay and the monoclonal antibody. This led to re-describing the pertinent (and still only operationally defined) SOM as “glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP)”, albeit without any substantial change in the underlying concepts. Consequently, a great deal of confusion in this area arose among researchers in soil, plant, and environmental sciences. Glomalin or GRSP (often used interchangeably) has previously been linked to various soil features, including stability of soil aggregates, size of soil C and N pools, sequestration of heavy metals, and alleviation of various plant stresses. GRSP concentrations in soil often, but not always, have been correlated with AMF biomass measured by alternative (mainly microscopic) approaches. GRSP formation, deposition, and/or decomposition in soils seem to be largely dependent on a multitude of interactions among plants, AMF, and other soil microorganisms, including prokaryotes. The chemical structure of GRSP extracted from soil remains unclear and generally complex. That is due to the unspecific mode of its extraction and purification, as well as the great variety of analytical approaches that have been used heretofore to assess it. Future research needs to elucidate the exact composition of this operationally defined SOM fraction, the controls over its production and accumulation in soils, and its exact role in soil ecology generally and soil food webs in particular. Furthermore, novel and independent tools should be established to more specifically (as compared to current glomalin assays) assess AMF biomass and functioning in roots and soil and its involvement in soil processes.

“ Glomalin”一词最初用于描述丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）的一种假设基因产物，该基因产物被认为是几乎普遍存在的，热稳定且高度难降解的糖蛋白，大量沉积在土壤中，被认为指示土壤健康和质量。在操作上将其定义为可通过热柠檬酸盐缓冲液提取的土壤有机物（SOM）的比例，并通过Bradford分析或与单克隆抗体MAb32B11的交叉反应进行评估。后来，人们认识到提取物含有多种化合物，包括一些非AMF来源的化合物，它们与Bradford分析法和单克隆抗体均具有交叉反应性。这导致将相关（但仍仅在操作上定义）SOM重新描述为“球蛋白相关土壤蛋白（GRSP）”，尽管基本概念没有任何实质性变化。因此，土壤，植物和环境科学领域的研究人员对此领域产生了很大的困惑。glomalin或GRSP（通常可互换使用）以前与各种土壤特征相关，包括土壤聚集体的稳定性，土壤C和N池的大小，螯合重金属以及减轻各种植物胁迫。土壤中GRSP的浓度通常但并非总是与通过替代方法（主要是微观方法）测得的AMF生物量相关。GRSP在土壤中的形成，沉积和/或分解似乎很大程度上取决于植物，AMF和其他土壤微生物（包括原核生物）之间的多种相互作用。从土壤中提取的GRSP的化学结构仍然不清楚，而且通常很复杂。这是由于其提取和纯化的非特定模式，以及迄今为止已用于评估它的多种分析方法。未来的研究需要阐明该可操作定义的SOM馏分的确切组成，对其在土壤中生产和积累的控制，以及其在土壤生态学中的确切作用，尤其是在土壤食物网中的确切作用。此外，应该建立新颖且独立的工具，以更具体地（与目前的gloomalin分析相比）评估AMF在根和土壤中的生物量和功能及其在土壤过程中的参与。未来的研究需要阐明该可操作定义的SOM馏分的确切组成，对其在土壤中生产和积累的控制，以及其在土壤生态学中的确切作用，尤其是在土壤食物网中的确切作用。此外，应该建立新颖且独立的工具，以更具体地（与目前的gloomalin分析相比）评估AMF在根和土壤中的生物量和功能及其在土壤过程中的参与。未来的研究需要阐明该可操作定义的SOM馏分的确切组成，对其在土壤中生产和积累的控制，以及其在土壤生态学中的确切作用，尤其是在土壤食物网中的确切作用。此外，应该建立新颖且独立的工具，以更具体地（与目前的gloomalin分析相比）评估AMF在根和土壤中的生物量和功能及其在土壤过程中的参与。