Transcriptome analysis unravels genes associated with in-vitro nanoparticle mediated enhancement of biomass and growth in Bambusa balcooa

Bamboos are perennial, arborescent, monocarpic, and significant non-timber species for industry which is used as a plentiful source of wholesome and nutritious food. In the current study, we ascertained that how Bambusa balcooa in vitro growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and antioxidant capacity were affected by citrate and CTAB coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). It was observed that numerous morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters were variably impacted along the citrate and CTAB coated gold nanoparticle concentration gradient. B.balcooa micro-plantlets supplemented with MS medium enriched with BAP, NAA and citrate-AuNPs displayed statistically significant shoot proliferation, photosynthetic pigments accumulation, and antioxidant activities. Contrarily, decline in all the growth and development parameters was observed in MS media supplemented with BAP, NAA and CTAB-AuNPs. Further, to unravel the regulatory mechanism underlying gold nano elicitation and in vitro plant behaviour, we conducted RNA sequencing of control, citrate-AuNPs treated and CTAB-AuNPs treated plantlets. Transcriptome profiling revealed various differentially expressed genes, metabolic pathways and transcription factors associated with nano elicitation and plant growth.