Effects of root-irrigation with metalaxyl-M and hymexazol on soil physical and chemical properties, enzyme activity, and the fungal diversity, community structure and function.

Abstract

Fungicides are commonly applied through root irrigation in tobacco fields to control soil-borne diseases, and they affect soil microorganisms. However, the effects of metalaxyl-M and hymexazol, used to manage tobacco black shank disease, on these soil microecology remain poorly understood. This study employed high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the soil physical and chemical properties, soil enzyme activity, and the diversity, community structure and function of soil fungi in tobacco fields following root irrigation with metalaxyl-M and hymexazol. The results revealed that ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N), soil organic matter (SOM), electrical conductivity (EC) and soil urease (UE) in soil were significantly increased and the pH decreased after root-irrigation with these two fungicides. The abundance of soil fungal community was significantly reduced after the root-irrigation of metalaxyl-M and hymexazol. The relative abundance of Ascomycota increased significantly after the treatment with metalaxyl-M. Following hymexazol treatment, the abundance of Achroiostachys, Nigrospora, Ustilaginoidea, and Trichoderma significantly decreased. Functional prediction analysis indicated an increase in the relative abundance of functional genes of saprophytic fungi after treatment with both fungicides. This study provides a foundational understanding of the environmental behavior and supports the scientific and rational use of metalaxyl-M and hymexazol in soil.