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Weitang Liu

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Aug 2026

OsGSTU1 contributes to rice (Oryza sativa) tolerance to tripyrasulfone via metabolic detoxification.

BACKGROUND Direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa) is increasingly adopted with agricultural mechanization, but weed competition, particularly from Echinochloa crus-galli, remains a major yield constraint. Tripyrasulfone, a novel HPPD-inhibiting herbicide, offers excellent selectivity for direct-seeded rice and effective control of resistant weeds; however, the molecular basis underlying rice tolerance to this herbicide is largely unknown. This study aimed to identify and functionally characterize the key gene(s) responsible for tripyrasulfone tolerance in rice. RESULTS Here, we identify and functionally characterize the tau-class glutathione S-transferase gene OsGSTU1, which contributes to tolerance to tripyrasulfone in rice. Phylogenetic analysis placed OsGSTU1 within the detoxification-related GSTU subfamily. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of OsGSTU1 for tripyrasulfone (-6.9 kcal mol-1) and its active metabolite hydrolyzed tripyrasulfone (HDT, -5.6 kcal mol-1). Across diverse rice varieties, expression of OsGSTU1 correlated positively with herbicide tolerance, yet the coding sequences of tolerant and sensitive cultivars were identical, indicating that differential expression, not protein sequence variation, underlies phenotypic differences. Subcellular localization showed OsGSTU1 at both the nucleus and plasma membrane. Heterologous expression in Escherichia coli conferred enhanced tolerance to both compounds, and transgenic rice overexpressing OsGSTU1 exhibited significantly increased herbicide tolerance and accelerated tripyrasulfone metabolism, whereas knockout lines displayed heightened susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that OsGSTU1, a tau-class glutathione S-transferase, contributes to tolerance to the HPPD-inhibiting herbicide tripyrasulfone in rice via enhanced metabolic detoxification. This work suggests that OsGSTU1 may serve as a promising candidate gene associated with tripyrasulfone tolerance in rice and provides mechanistic insights into its potential role in herbicide detoxification, supporting the sustainable use of tripyrasulfone in direct-seeded rice systems and contributing to improved crop protection and herbicide resistance management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

P. Yin, Y. Li, Yutong Pan et al. · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Characterization of ALS Inhibitor Resistance in Alopecurus myosuroides : Primary Role of Trp574Leu and Secondary Contributions of Additional Mutations and Metabolism

Blackgrass is a highly competitive weed in wheat fields and has increasingly evolved resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Ten field populations were screened, resulting in the selection of one highly resistant population (R-06) and one susceptible population (S-19) for detailed study. Whole-plant bioassays, ALS gene sequencing, molecular docking, metabolic inhibitor assays, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and ALS activity assays, and cross-resistance profiling were conducted to dissect the mechanisms of resistance. ALS sequencing identified three amino acid substitutions in R-06: Pro232Thr (P232T), His363Lys (H363K), and Trp574Leu (W574L). While W574L is a well-characterized ALS resistance-conferring mutation, P232T and H363K are outside major resistance hotspots and may serve secondary or compensatory roles. Molecular docking analyses predicted altered binding of mesosulfuron-methyl in the mutant ALS model, consistent with structural changes in the binding pocket. Metabolic inhibitor assays using malathion, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), and NBD-Cl resulted in modest increases in herbicide sensitivity, with a maximum reduction factor of 2.95 for PBO. GST activity was higher in R-06 at a single sampling time point (3 DAT). In addition, R-06 showed reduced sensitivity to several ALS inhibitors and reduced efficacy against selected herbicides with alternative modes of action. High-level resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl in the R-06 population is primarily associated with the ALS target-site mutation Trp574Leu, while the roles of Pro232Thr, His363Lys, and metabolism appear secondary and remain unresolved. These findings highlight complex resistance patterns in blackgrass and emphasize the need for diversified and integrated weed management strategies.

Mujeeba Fida, Rui Cheng, Mengjie Wang et al. · 0 citations
Open access Aug 2026

Glutathione S-transferase genes PfGSTU6 and PfGSTL1 involved in mesosulfuron-methyl resistance in Polypogon fugax.

The cross-resistance profile of the resistant P. fugax population is characterized, which provides guidance for developing targeted field weed resistance management strategies and provides genetic resources for resistance monitoring and crop breeding.

Longhao Zou, Liu-Jun Song, P. Yin et al. · 0 citations