Plant-microbiome interactions are essential for plant health and productivity under stress; however, little is known about these interactions in response to herbicide. Here, we integrated 16S rRNA gene sequencing with nontargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate the interactions between rhizosphere microbiomes and metabolomes in Polypogon fugax. The results indicated that quizalofop-p-ethyl-resistant (QU-resistant) P. fugax promoted microbial colonization within its microbiome, enriched the abundance of Verrucomicrobia, and increased the levels of d-proline and α,α-trehalose in the rhizosphere, potentially attracting Verrucomicrobia. Furthermore, when the rhizosphere microbiome from R3 populations was transplanted to QU-sensitive plants, the recipients exhibited enhanced antioxidant defense systems and demonstrated reduced sensitivity to QU. These results suggest that the rhizosphere microbiome of QU-resistant P. fugax contributes to its resistance against QU. Overall, our findings highlight the complex interactions among herbicide resistance mechanisms, rhizosphere microbiota, and plant responses, suggesting potential strategies for managing herbicide-resistant weed populations.
Cao et al. (Fri,) studied this question.