The possible toxicities of agglomerates of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) toward plant cells were evaluated. Arabidopsis T87 suspension cells were used as the model cells and decreases in values of cell dry weights, cell viabilities, cell chlorophyll contents, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were seen for the cells cultured in media containing the agglomerates of MWCNTs, indicating the agglomerates of MWCNTs are toxic to the Arabidopsis T87 suspension cells. Moreover. the toxicities increased sharply as the diameters of the agglomerates of the MWCNTs became smaller. A concept based on the hypersensitive response is suggested to explain the possible toxic mechanism induced by the MWCNTs. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.