Graphene reportedly exerts positive effects on plant root growth and development, although the corresponding molecular response mechanism remains to be elucidated. Maize seeds were randomly divided into a control and experimental group, and the roots of Zea mays L. seedlings were watered with different concentrations (0–100 mg/L) of graphene to explore the effects and molecular mechanism of graphene on the growth and development of Z. mays L. Upon evaluating root growth indices, 50 mg/L graphene remarkably increased total root length, root volume, and the number of root tips and forks of maize seedlings compared to those of the control group. We observed that the contents of nitrogen and potassium in rhizosphere soil increased following the 50 mg/L graphene treatment. Thereafter, we compared the transcriptome changes in Z. mays roots in response to the 50 mg/L graphene treatment. Transcriptional factor regulation, plant hormone signal transduction, nitrogen and potassium metabolism, as well as secondary metabolism in maize roots subjected to graphene treatment, exhibited significantly upregulated expression, all of which could be related to mechanisms underlying the response to graphene. Based on qPCR validations, we proposed several candidate genes that might have been affected with the graphene treatment of maize roots. The transcriptional profiles presented here provide a foundation for deciphering the mechanism underlying graphene and maize root interaction.

据报道，石墨烯对植物根系生长和发育产生积极影响，但相应的分子反应机制仍有待阐明。将玉米种子随机分为对照组和实验组，用不同浓度（0-100 mg/L）的石墨烯浇灌玉米幼苗的根部，探索石墨烯对生长发育的影响和分子机制的Z。梅斯L. 在评估根系生长指数时，与对照组相比，50 mg/L 石墨烯显着增加了玉米幼苗的总根长、根体积以及根尖和根叉数。我们观察到在 50 mg/L 石墨烯处理后根际土壤中氮和钾的含量增加。此后，我们比较了Z 中的转录组变化。梅斯根响应 50 mg/L 石墨烯处理。石墨烯处理的玉米根部的转录因子调节、植物激素信号转导、氮钾代谢以及次生代谢均表现出显着上调的表达，所有这些都可能与石墨烯反应的潜在机制有关。基于 qPCR 验证，我们提出了几个可能受到石墨烯处理玉米根部影响的候选基因。这里介绍的转录谱为破译石墨烯和玉米根相互作用的机制奠定了基础。