Data from: Effects of carbon-based nanomaterials on seed germination, biomass accumulation and salt stress response of bioenergy crops

Bioenergy crops are an attractive option for use in energy production. A
good plant candidate for bioenergy applications should produce a high
amount of biomass and resist harsh environmental conditions. Carbon-based
nanomaterials (CBNs) have been described as promising seed germination and
plant growth regulators. In this paper, we tested the impact of two CBNs:
graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on germination and
biomass production of two major bioenergy crops (sorghum and switchgrass).
The application of graphene and CNTs increased the germination rate of
switchgrass seeds and led to an early germination of sorghum seeds. The
exposure of switchgrass to graphene (200 mg/l) resulted in a 28% increase
of total biomass produced compared to untreated plants. We tested the
impact of CBNs on bioenergy crops under salt stress conditions and
discovered that CBNs can significantly reduce symptoms of salt stress
imposed by the addition of NaCl into the growth medium. Using an ion
selective electrode, we demonstrated that the concentration of Na+ ions in
NaCl solution can be significantly decreased by the addition of CNTs to
the salt solution. Our data confirmed the potential of CBNs as plant
growth regulators for non-food crops and demonstrated the role of CBNs in
the protection of plants against salt stress by desalination of saline
growth medium.