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What Is New for the Mechanisms of Plant Resistance to Paraquat After Decades of Research?

Author

Listed:
  • Liyun Zhang

    (The College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Chang Xu

    (The College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Heping Han

    (Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Shawn Askew

    (School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA)

  • Erik Ervin

    (Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA)

  • Qin Yu

    (Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Kehua Wang

    (The College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
    Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia)

Abstract

Paraquat is one of the most widely used nonselective herbicides globally. Although the emergence of weed resistance to paraquat has progressed relatively slowly since the first reported case in Japan in 1980, it has been steadily increasing. Resistance in weedy plants is predominantly associated with non-target-site resistance (NTSR), particularly via reduced uptake and translocation to target sites (i.e., chloroplasts) and/or enhanced sequestration; increased antioxidant capacity is also a common mechanism by which plants cope with various stresses, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, direct evidence for paraquat transport mediated by membrane transporters in weeds has not been established. Over the past decade, research, especially in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana , has advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant resistance to paraquat. This brief review summarized recent studies on paraquat resistance, with a particular focus on uptake, translocation, and sequestration mechanisms. For instance, three L-amino acid transporter (LAT) proteins (LAT1/3/4) and one (PDR11) belonging to the PDR (pleiotropic drug resistance) subfamily within the ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter family were confirmed to exhibit paraquat transporter activity; furthermore, transporters such as DTX6 (detoxification efflux carrier) can export/sequestrate paraquat inside the cell to the vacuole and apoplast, which confers stronger paraquat resistance to nearly commercial doses. In addition, the evolving perspectives in paraquat resistance research integrating big data and artificial intelligence, development of paraquat-tolerant crops, and a proposal of ryegrass ( Lolium. spp.) and/or goosegrass ( Eleusine indica ) as a model weed species for paraquat resistance studies were also briefly discussed. Further advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of paraquat resistance in plants, including weeds, are anticipated.

Suggested Citation

  • Liyun Zhang & Chang Xu & Heping Han & Shawn Askew & Erik Ervin & Qin Yu & Kehua Wang, 2025. "What Is New for the Mechanisms of Plant Resistance to Paraquat After Decades of Research?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:12:p:1288-:d:1679433
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