Phytotoxicity of flufenoxuron in barley: Disrupted crosstalk between auxin signaling and carbon metabolism

Flufenoxuron has been widely applied in agriculture for decades because of high insecticidal efficiency. However, its environmental persistence and potential phytotoxicity raise alarming ecological concerns, with mechanisms that remain unclear. This study investigated the physiological role of flufenoxuron in regulating auxin and carbohydrate metabolism in barley. Flufenoxuron exposure significantly inhibited barley growth and reduced biomass accumulation in both roots and leaves. Endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels were notably decreased, indicating a disruption of auxin homeostasis. Molecular docking analysis showed that flufenoxuron had a higher binding affinity to transport inhibitor response 1 (TIR1) than IAA, thereby interfering with auxin perception and signal transduction. Enzyme assays demonstrated that flufenoxuron exposure altered sucrose-cleaving and glycolytic enzyme activities, with tissue-specific metabolic adaptations in roots and leaves. Correlation analysis revealed a negative association between IAA levels and cytInv activity in leaves, underscoring the interplay between hormonal regulation and carbohydrate metabolism. Overall, these findings provide mechanistic insights into flufenoxuron-induced phytotoxicity, highlighting the organ-specific association between auxin signaling and carbon metabolism and offering a new perspective into the assessment of ecological risks involving persistent insecticides. • Flufenoxuron exposure significantly inhibited the biomass of barley. • The auxin signaling pathway in barley was disrupted. • Flufenoxuron showed stronger TIR1 binding affinity than IAA. • Flufenoxuron exposure disrupted the carbohydrate metabolism of barley. • Roots and leaves exhibited distinct physiological responses to flufenoxuron.