Pea (Pisum sativum)is a popular legume crop, and increasing yield through effective cultivation techniques is a central issue. Nano-fertilizer has enormous potential to improve the yield of agricultural production. Here, we investigated the effects of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles (MoS2 NPs), which act as nano-fertilizers, on the growth of peas. The results revealed that application of 100 mg/L MoS2 NPs significantly promoted growth, increased the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. In addition, MoS2 NPs increased the formation of nodules. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes related to plant auxin signal transduction and carbon metabolism were upregulated upon 100 mg/L MoS2 NPs treatment. Moreover, auxin, carbon, and nitrogen assimilation-related genes in nodules were upregulated in the MoS2 NPs treatment groups. These results suggested that foliar application of MoS2 NPs promoted the pea growth and the accumulation of organic matter, which was able to transport abundant materials and energy to the roots. Consequently, the roots synthesize more amino acids in the nodules, supporting the growth of the aboveground parts. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of how MoS2 NPs harmonize the carbon/nitrogen assimilation procedure in different parts of the plant. This study also offers new ideas and strategies for the application of nanotechnology to promote agricultural production, especially for yield improvement in nano-enabled agricultural fields.

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