Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Can Promote Brassica Napus L. And Arabidopsis Thaliana L. Root Hair Development Through Nitric Oxide And Ethylene Pathways

    November 2020 in “ International Journal of Molecular Sciences ”
    Gan Zhao, Yingying Zhao, Wang Lou, Dyaaaldin Abdalmegeed, Rongzhan Guan, Wenbiao Shen
    TLDR Multi-walled carbon nanotubes can enhance root hair growth in certain plants by affecting nitric oxide and ethylene pathways, but only at specific concentrations.
    The study demonstrated that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) promoted root hair development in Brassica napus L. and Arabidopsis thaliana L. through pathways involving nitric oxide (NO) and ethylene. MWCNTs entered root cells and stimulated nitrate reductase-dependent NO and ethylene synthesis, promoting root hair formation. Ethylene was found to act downstream of NO, and optimal MWCNT concentrations enhanced root hair growth, while high concentrations inhibited it. The study used pharmacological, genetic, and molecular methods, including ethylene-insensitive and NO mutants, to confirm the involvement of these pathways, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms and potential agricultural applications of MWCNTs.
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