Impact of Trichoderma harzianum Biocontrol Agent on Functional Diversity of Soil Microbial Community in Tobacco Monoculture in Argentina

摘要

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Trichoderma harzianum R3P2 biocontrol agent on soil microbial community in tobacco monoculture. To this end, we studied the changes in soil metabolic diversity with cell suspensions methodology using Biolog registered (Inc., Hayward, CA.) GN2 Microplates. Principal component analysis showed that functional abilities of the soil microbial community in tobacco monoculture were altered by the application of the biocontrol agent. A novel taxon- independent index, Yokoyama CLPP Diversity Index, indicated that control plots had higher bioactivity than treated ones. Even though the introduced biocontrol agent resulted in a lower number of metabolized compounds, absorbance values were much higher for a set of specific compounds in control. Results suggest that the addition of biocontrol agent contributes to stimulate growth of a specific bacterial population shifting the microbial community.