Plasma Membrane (PM) H + -ATPase Mediates Rhizosphere Acidification and Regulates Herbicide Imazethapyr Toxicity in Wheat.

The plasma membrane (PM) H + -ATPase is crucial for a plant defense system. However, there is currently no consensus on whether the PM H + -ATPase plays a role in alleviating the toxic effects of herbicides on nontarget plants. We found that under the herbicide imazethapyr (IM) exposure, PM H + -ATPase activity in wheat roots increased by approximately 69.53%, leading to rhizosphere acidification. When PM H + -ATPase activity is inhibited, the toxicity of IM significantly increases: When exposed to IM alone, the total Fe content of wheat roots decreased by 29.07%, the relative Fe 2+ content increased by 27.75%, and the ROS content increased by 27.74%. When the PM H + -ATPase activity was inhibited, the corresponding data under IM exposure were 37.36%, 215%, and 57.68%, respectively. This work delves into the role of PM H + -ATPase in mediating the detoxification mechanism in plants exposed to herbicides, offering new insights into enhancing crop resistance against herbicides.