At present, the uptake and accumulation of nanoplastics by plants have raised particular concerns. However, molecular mechanisms underlying nanoplastic phytotoxicity are still vague and insufficient. To address this scientific gap, we analyzed the transcriptome response of hydroponically grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) (100 nm) by integrating the differentially expressed gene analysis (DEGA) and the weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA). PSNPs could significantly shape the gene expression patterns of wheat in a tissue-specific manner. Four candidate modules and corresponding hub genes associated with plant traits were identified using WGCNA. PSNPs significantly altered carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway-plant, plant hormone signal transduction, and plant-pathogen interaction Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. In addition, some Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with the metal ion transport were further screened. These findings shed new light on the phytotoxic mechanism and environmental implication behind the interaction of nanoplastics and crop plants, and advance our understanding of the potential adverse effect induced by the presence of nanoplastics in agricultural systems.

目前，植物对纳米塑料的吸收和积累引起了特别的关注。然而，纳米塑料植物毒性的分子机制仍然模糊且不充分。为了解决这一科学空白，我们分析了水培小麦 ( Triticum aestivum L.) 对聚苯乙烯纳米塑料 (PSNP) 的转录组响应 (100 nm) 通过整合差异表达基因分析 (DEGA) 和加权基因相关网络分析 (WGCNA)。PSNPs 可以以组织特异性方式显着塑造小麦的基因表达模式。使用 WGCNA 鉴定了与植物性状相关的四个候选模块和相应的中心基因。PSNPs 显着改变了碳代谢、氨基酸生物合成、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 (MAPK) 信号通路-植物、植物激素信号转导和植物-病原体相互作用京都基因和基因组百科全书 (KEGG) 通路。此外，进一步筛选了一些与金属离子转运相关的基因本体论（GO）术语。这些发现揭示了纳米塑料与农作物相互作用背后的植物毒性机制和环境影响，