Effects of Graphene on Germination and Seedling Morphology in Rice

The effects of graphene on the germination and growth of rice seeds were studied. Seeds were treated with graphene solutions at different concentrations. Obvious delaying effects on the germination rate were observed with the increasing of graphene concentration. The growth of radicle and plumule was inhibited. And also, the morphology (root length, stem length, adventitious number, root fresh weight, fresh weight of over ground part and root cap ratio) of rice seedlings was certainly affected. After been treated by different concentrations of graphene for 16 d, promoting effects on adventitious root number, root fresh weight and fresh weight of over ground part were observed at concentration of 5 mg/L. Significant inhibitions on the stem length and fresh weight of over ground part were observed at concentration of 50 mg/L. In addition, all the indexes were inhibited at concentrations of 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L. It indicates that graphene certainly inhibit the morphogenesis of rice seedlings. But the mechanism by which graphene of 5 mg/L improves part of growth indexes still needs further study.