Abstract: The rapid development of nanotechnology and the potential environmental risk of wide application of artificial nanoparticles (NPs) have raised considerable concerns. Metal-based nanoparticles (MB NPs) have dual-toxicity of metal and NPs, and thus, their biotoxicity and ecological risk are the hotspots in the studies of nanotoxicology. Plant, as a main component of ecosystem, is a potential pathway for NPs bioaccumulation and entering into food chain. This paper discussed the MB NPs absorption, translocation, and accumulation by plants, and summarized the eco-toxicological effect of MB NPs on plants and related mechanisms. The factors affecting the phytotoxicity of MB NPs were approached, and the research progress on the eco-toxicological effect of MB NPs on plants, especially on food crops, was reviewed. Also, the existing problems in present MB NPs phytotoxicity studies were analyzed, and the future research directions were proposed.