Single-walled carbon nanotubes selectively influence maize root tissue development accompanied by the change in the related gene expression

► The effect of nanotubes on maize is tissue selective during root development. ► Some genes are up-regulated and a few genes are down-regulated by SWCNTs. ► SWCNT-treatment leads to global deacetylation of histone H3. ► Nanoparticles affect relative root growth through regulation of gene expression.