With the rapid development and wide application of nanotechnology in recent years, increasing amount of manufactured nanomaterials will inevitably enter the environment. The presence of nanomaterials in the environment can have negative effects on both environment and human health, which has been attracted much attention. Many studies have suggested the potential toxicity of manufactured nanomaterials to bacteria and aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants. Plants comprise a very important living component of terrestrial ecosystems. On one hand, nanomaterials will influence plant growth and development. On the other hand, plant metabolic activities will affect transformation and fate of nanomaterials in the environment as well as their transportation in food chain. However, up to now studies about the interactions between nanomaterials and plants have been largely ignored, and most of the publications are limited to explanations of phenomena observed. For example, the available studies on nano-phytotoxicity have focused mainly on toxicity symptoms of plants or plant cells, and failed to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the phytotoxicity of nanomaterials, as well as the uptake, translocation and accumulations of nanomaterials by plants. Moreover, different or even opposite conclusions have been drawn from the researches. Therefore, it is necessary to have a systematic review of the available researches in this field. Here we present a comprehensive review of the studies about the interaction of nanomaterials and plants including the phytotoxicity of nanomaterials and the uptake and translocation of nanomaterials by plants at the whole plant and cellular levels. Contents
1 Introduction
2 Interactions of nanomaterials and plants
3 Effects of nanomaterials on plant growth
3.1 Carbon nanomaterials
3.2 Metal (oxide) nanomaterials
4 Uptake and translocation of nanomaterials by plants
4.1 Negative opinions on plant uptake of nano-materials
4.2 Positive opinions on plant uptake of nano-materials
5 Conclusions and perspectives