Nature Communications · 11 October 2026 · From issue 50
A method quantifying soil melanin to understand fungal impacts on soil carbon stability
A new lab test shows soil melanin levels closely track total soil carbon amounts.
Sylwia Adamczyk, Bartosz Adamczyk.
Dark fungal matter called melanin may help soil hold carbon for a long time. Scientists had no good way to measure melanin directly in soil until now. A new lab test uses a method called liquid chromatography, which separates chemicals so each one can be measured. Soil melanin levels matched closely with total soil carbon, supporting the idea that fungal melanin helps lock carbon into soil.
Shows melanin levels line up with total soil carbon, but does not prove melanin causes carbon storage.
Lab method only, no sample size given, link not proven causal.
Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 12 October 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (Nature Communications). Read the source
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