Metatranscriptome analysis of maize rhizosphere microbiome under nanosilver exposure

The link between maize biomass responses to AgNP-exposure and alterations in functional and taxonomical composition of the maize rhizosphere microbiome are investigated. Plants are grown in fertilized (NPK) soil from an agricultural corn field, and half of them are exposed to 100 ppm silver nanoparticles. Results are interpreted in the light of the varying responses of maize to nanosilver, ranging from negative to positive, for which the role of the rhizosphere microbiome is investigated.