Differential Selection Effects of Continuous AITC Fumigation on Soil Microbial Communities and Functions and Identification of Tolerant Strains

TL;DR

This study explores how continuous use of AITC as a soil fumigant affects microbial communities and identifies bacteria that can tolerate it.

Contribution

The study introduces a framework for understanding microbial responses to AITC and identifies tolerant beneficial strains for soil restoration.

Findings

Fungal communities show greater cumulative damage compared to bacterial communities under AITC fumigation.

Tolerant bacterial genera like Bacillus and Streptomyces maintain dominance under continuous AITC stress.

Functional genes related to the nitrogen cycle are significantly downregulated, while the TCA cycle remains robust.

Abstract

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is effective as a bio-based fumigant in controlling soil-borne diseases; however, the selective pressure it exerts on soil microecology and evolutionary dynamics remains inadequately characterized. This study systematically investigated the remodeling effects of continuous AITC fumigation on soil microbial communities, functional genes, and functional strains by integrating metagenomic analysis and pure culture techniques. Results demonstrate that AITC drives directional selection from “sensitive” to “tolerant” microorganisms. Fungal communities exhibit greater cumulative damage than bacterial communities, with the proportion of significantly suppressed fungi increasing linearly from 9.3% at baseline to 35.7%. At the genus level, sensitive groups were predominantly enriched in pathogen-associated genera, e.g., Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas, whereas tolerant groups, represented by Bacillus and Streptomyces, maintained ecological dominance under continuous stress. Functionally, AITC induced differential evolution of functional gene repertoires. Nitrogen cycle genes (e.g., amoC) exhibited high negative sensitivity, with significant downregulation by 20%, whereas the TCA core module in the carbon cycle exhibited strong robustness. Virulence assays confirmed EC50 values for tolerant beneficial bacteria (Bacillus spp.) (>40 mg·L−1) were significantly higher than those for pathogens (1.3–7.9 mg/L). This study established a microbial “sensitive-tolerant” response framework under AITC stress, revealing the core potential of endogenous tolerant strains for the precise ecological restoration of fumigated soils.

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