Differential tolerance to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox)-inhibiting herbicides, oxyfluorfen was observed between leaf ages in squash. Physiological responses to oxyfluorfen, including leaf injury, cellular leakage, accumulation of tetrapyrroles, and antioxidative enzymes activity, were investigated in leaf age classes of squash to identify mechanisms of oxyfluorfen tolerance. Leaf 1, 2, and 3 injuries for Joongangaehobak were >10,000, 1,286, and 1.6-fold higher than that of leaf 4, after treatment of oxyfluorfen. On the other hand, leaf 1, 2, and 3 injuries for Sintowjahobak were 725, 366, and >0.6-fold higher than that of leaf 4, after treatment of oxyfluorfen. However, in contrast to oxyfluorfen treatment results, leaf injury of squash leaf 4 treated with paraquat was much smaller than in leaves 1, 2 and 3. Electrolyte leakage from the tissues treated with oxyfluorfen was higher in the youngest leaf (Leaf 4) than in the older leaves 1, 2, and 3. Differential leaf response to oxyfluorfen of squash appears to be due in large part to differences in protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX), Mg-Proto IX, and Mg-Proto IX monomethyl ester accumulation in treated leaves. In contrast, leaf 4 had higher activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase than leaf 1 after treatment with oxyfluorfen. However, the induction in antioxidant activity in leaf 4 was not enough to overcome the toxic effects of a Protox inhibitor, oxyfluorfen, so the leaf eventually died.