Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic investigation reveals that graphene oxide reduces nicosulfuron detriment in sweet corn
摘要
Nicosulfuron (NIF) stress poses a significant constraint on sweet corn production. Graphene oxide (GO), as an environmentally friendly nanomaterial, serves as a safe agent to enhance crop stress resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms of GO-mediated sweet corn to tolerate NIF remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of GO on sweet corn's response to NIF through physiological assessments, comparative transcriptomic analysis, and metabolomic profiling. The findings indicate that the application of GO mitigates the detrimental effects of NIF stress on sweet corn seedlings, as evidenced by enhanced growth metrics, improved chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and photosynthetic indicators. GO predominantly influences genes and metabolites related to the synthesis of flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and calcium (Ca2+) signaling pathways to counteract NIF stress in sweet corn. Additionally, key genes associated with peroxidases (POD) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP) were identified through the analysis of weighted gene co-expression networks (WGCNA). These genes play crucial roles in the response to NIF stress orchestrated by graphene oxide. In summary, this study demonstrates the synergistic regulatory effect of GO on NIF tolerance in sweet corn, providing valuable insights for developing NIF-resistant sweet corn varieties.