Photoluminescence (PL) is a crucial property of carbon dots (CDs), which are promising carbon nanomaterials for agricultural applications. Red light signaling positively influences various physiological processes in plant salt tolerance. However, the potential for designing CDs based on light signaling theory to enhance agronomic traits in field crops remains unexplored. In this study, foliar spraying of red-emissive CDs (RCDs) improved salt tolerance in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) by enhancing nitric oxide (NO)-mediated Na⁺ homeostasis in roots. A mechanistic investigation attributed this beneficial effect primarily to the PL properties of the RCDs. The expression of genes related to RCD-enhanced Na⁺ transport in roots was found to be dependent on NO-mediated histone acetylation. For instance, RCDs, including genes encoding the red-light receptor (IbPHYB) and the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter (IbSOS1), triggered comprehensive histone H4 hyperacetylation in salinized sweetpotato roots. IbHY5 was identified as a potential shoot-to-root mobile signal that triggered the hyperproduction of NO in sweetpotato roots under stress conditions. In summary, the RCDs enhanced salt tolerance in sweetpotato via the IbHY5-NO-IbHAM1-IbSOS1 signaling. These findings revealed that the PL properties of CDs could target specific light signaling pathways for field crop improvement.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a fungus that causes a devastating fungal disease of rapeseed (Brassica napus), causes significant yield losses globally. Carbon dots (CDs), a class of carbon-based nanomaterials, have emerged as promising agents for plant disease management owing to low toxicity and biocompatibility. This study demonstrates the antifungal potential of Salvia miltiorrhiza-derived CDs in enhancing resistance to S. sclerotiorum in rapeseed. In vitro assays revealed concentration-dependent suppression of fungal growth by CDs. In planta applications triggered multifaceted defense responses evidenced by: (1) increased glucosinolate accumulation and redox homeostasis through ROS modulation and elevated superoxide dismutase/catalase activities; (2) transcriptional activation of ROS-scavenging systems and biosynthesis pathways for defensive metabolites (flavonoids and phenylpropanes); and (3) restoration of pathogen-impaired physiological processes, including photosynthetic recovery via Calvin cycle reactivation, energy metabolism through TCA cycle enhancement, and stress-responsive hormone signaling. Integrated multi-omics analyses further indicated that CDs establish a coordinated defense network by simultaneously optimizing metabolic homeostasis and amplifying disease resistance mechanisms. These findings position CDs as a novel eco-friendly strategy for biotic stress management, providing a sustainable approach to mitigate crop losses caused by fungal pathogens.