Versatile MXenzymes Scavenging ROS for Promotion of Seed Germination under Salt Stress

Abstract

Salinization is recognized as a global problem, restricting agricultural production and sustainability. Targeting the salinity-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant treatment represents a protective strategy to improve plant salt tolerance. Herein, we report a V₄C₃ MXene nanozyme (MXenzyme), which exhibits good biocompatibility and excellent reactive oxygen species scavenging activity to ameliorate the salt stress-induced inhibition of seed germination. V₄C₃ MXenzyme treatment can significantly relieve salinity-induced oxidative stress and restore the antioxidant system in pea seeds, thus improving the phenotypic traits during germination. The molecular mechanism by which antioxidant V₄C₃ MXenzymes augment salt tolerances is revealed through transcriptomics and metabolomics. V₄C₃ MXenzymes significantly regulate the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and molecule biosynthesis that correlate closely with hormone signal transduction genes and energy metabolism genes. With correlation and the combined analysis, redox homeostasis targeted by antioxidant V₄C₃ MXenzymes plays a critical role in promoting plant growth under salt stress.