Black carbon (BC), a product of the incomplete combustion of biomass, has become of increased interest as a soil amendment and a tool to potentially sequester carbon (C) in soil. Recent studies have shown that BC addition affects C mineralization processes by microbes but these results have been mixed, showing both increased and decreased mineralization effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity of saprotrophic white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor, to decompose BC and the potential inductive effects (priming) BC might have on the decomposition of malt extract media (MEA) over a 10 week period.  To investigate selective oxidation of BC in the decomposition study, 13C labeled Jack Pine, Pinus banksiana, was used to produce the black carbon, allowing for an isotope tag to be traced into CO2 liberated during incubation. We found that total C respired decreased with BC addition (negative priming) for both MEA media and MEA media supplemented with veratryl alcohol, a laccase production stimulant, suggesting either suppression of enzyme release or selective binding of extracellular enzymes on BC. Stable isotope signatures indicated minimal contribution, less than 1% of BC C to total C respired in both MEA media and MEA media with veratryl alcohol. Interestingly, while total C respiration decreased with BC addition in MEA media, both oxidative (laccase, manganese peroxidase) and hydrolytic (� glucosidase) enzyme production increased with BC in the absence of veratryl alcohol but decreased in its presence. These results suggest that the physiological response of T. versicolor to BC is complex and responsive to enzymatic triggers but that black carbon itself can act to suppress overall litter or soil decay by fungi.

Priming effects of black carbon additions on carbon mineralization in malt extract media by the white-rot fungus, <i>Trametes versicolor</i>

246th National Meeting (2013)

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Priming effects of black carbon additions on carbon mineralization in malt extract media by the white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor