Nontargeted metabolomic analysis to unravel alleviation mechanisms of carbon nanotubes on inhibition of alfalfa growth under pyrene stress

Carbon nanotubes have displayed great potential in enhancing phytoremediation of PAHs polluted soils. However, the response of plants to the coexistence of carbon nanotubes and PAHs and the associated influencing mechanisms re-main largely unknown. Here, the effect of carbon nanotubes on alfalfa growth and pyrene uptake under exposure to pyrene was evaluated through sand culture experiment and gas chromatography time-of -flight mass spectrometer (GC-TOF-MS) based metabolomics. Results showed that pyrene at 10 mg kg(-1) obviously reduced the shoot fresh weight of alfalfa by 18.3 %. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at 25 and 50 mg kg(-1) significantly enhanced the shoot fresh weight in a dose-dependent manner, nearly by 80 % at 50 mg kg(-1). Pyrene was mainly accumulated in alfalfa roots, in which the concentration was 35 times as much as that in shoots. MWCNTs greatly enhanced the accumulation of pyrene in alfalfa roots, almost by two times at 50 mg kg(-1), while decreased pyrene concentration in shoots, from 0.11 mg kg(-1) to 0.044 mg kg(-1) at MWCNTs concentration of 50 mg kg(-1). Metabolomics data revealed that pyrene at 10 mg kg(-1) trigged significant metabolic changes in alfalfa root exudates, downregulating 27 metabolites. MWCNTs generated an increase in the contents of some downregulated metabolites caused by pyrene stress, which were restored to the original level or even higher, mainly including organic acids and amino acids. MWNCTs significantly enriched some metabolic pathways positively correlated with shoot growth and pyrene accumulation in shoots under exposure to pyrene, including TCA cycle, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, cysteine and methione metabolism as well as alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. This work highlights the regulation effect of MWCNTs on the metabolism of root exudates, which are helpful for alfalfa to alleviate the stress from pyrene contamination.

Automated summary

Carbon nanotubes have a positive effect on the growth of alfalfa and the uptake of pyrene. The presence of carbon nanotubes can increase the shoot fresh weight of alfalfa and the accumulation of pyrene in the roots. Metabolomics data reveals that carbon nanotubes can regulate the metabolism of root exudates, helping alfalfa alleviate the stress from pyrene contamination.