Little is known about the fate, transport, and bioavailability of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in soil. Moreover, there are no reports on the effect of surface coating upon NPs uptake by plants. In this study. Zen mays plants were grown for one month in unenriched and organic soils treated with coated and uncoated CeO2 NPs. In addition, plants were exposed to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-stained CeO2 NPs and analyzed in a confocal microscope. In organic soil, roots from uncoated and coated NPs at 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg kg(-1) had 40, 80, 130, and 260% and 10, 70, 90, and 40% more Ce, respectively, compared to roots from unenrichecl soil. Conversely, shoots of plants from unenriched soil had significantly more Ce compared with shoots from organic soil. Confocal fluorescence images showed FITC-stained CeO2 NP aggregates in cell walls of epidermis and cortex, suggesting apoplastic pathway. The mu XRF results revealed the presence of CeO2 NP aggregates within vascular tissues. To the authors knowledge this is the first report on the effects of surface coating and organic matter on Ce uptake from CeO2 NPs and upon the mechanisms of CeO2 NPs uptake by higher plants. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.