Conflicting plant responses to silver nanoparticles including specific and non-specific response, tolerance mechanism and positive effect

In this review, we summarize the basic responses of plants to silver nanoparticles. These have been divided into non-specific (stress response to reactive oxygen species, plant-dependent factors, concentration) and specific responses (AgNPs form, size, quantity, coating, shape) and tolerance mechanisms (antioxidant enzymes, non-enzymatic antioxidants), also called defensive responses. The non-specific responses are common to all plants, while the specific responses depend on the specifications of the nanoparticles and also on the responses of individual plant species. In the last section, the plant tolerance mechanisms elicited by silver nanoparticles, which seek to prevent damage to the plant or, in many cases, to mitigate their toxicity, are described.Highlightspositive and negative effects of silver nanoparticles on plantsdescription of specific and non-specific toxicity of silver nanoparticles on plantsexplanation of the tolerance mechanism against silver nanoparticles