A novel insight into the mode of action of glufosinate: how reactive oxygen species are formed

Date

2020

Authors

Takano, H.K.
Beffa, R.
Preston, C.
Westra, P.
Dayan, F.E.

Editors

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Type:

Journal article

Citation

Photosynthesis Research, 2020; 144(3):361-372

Statement of Responsibility

Hudson K. Takano, Roland Beffa, Christopher Preston, Philip Westra and Franck E. Dayan

Conference Name

Abstract

Glufosinate targets glutamine synthetase (GS), but its fast herbicidal action is triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The relationship between GS inhibition and ROS accumulation was investigated in Amaranthus palmeri. Glufosinate's fast action is light-dependent with no visual symptoms or ROS formation in the dark. Inhibition of GS leads to accumulation of ammonia and metabolites of the photorespiration pathway, such as glycolate and glyoxylate, as well as depletion of other intermediates such as glycine, serine, hydroxypyruvate, and glycerate. Exogenous supply of glycolate to glufosinate-treated plants enhanced herbicidal activity and dramatically increased hydrogen peroxide accumulation (possibly from peroxisomal glycolate oxidase activity). Glufosinate affected the balance between ROS generation and scavenging. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase increased after glufosinate treatment in an attempt to quench the nascent ROS burst. Low doses of atrazine and dinoseb were used to investigate the sources of ROS by manipulating photosynthetic electron transport and oxygen (O2) evolution. ROS formation depended on electron flow and O2 evolution in photosystem II (PSII). Inhibition of GS disrupted photorespiration, carbon assimilation, and linear electron flow in the light reactions. Consequently, the antioxidant machinery and the water-water cycle are overwhelmed in the presence of light and glufosinate. The O2 generated by the splitting of water in PSII becomes the acceptor of electrons, generating ROS. The cascade of events leads to lipid peroxidation and forms the basis for the fast action of glufosinate.

School/Discipline

Dissertation Note

Provenance

Description

Published: 05 May 2020

Access Status

Rights

© 2020, Springer Nature

License

Grant ID

Call number

Persistent link to this record