γ-Fe2O3 NPs entered but did not translocated upward in the Citrus maxima plants. γ-Fe2O3 NPs showed no impact on plant biomass and root length. The impact of γ-Fe2O3 on chlorophyll content was dependent on NP concentration. RT-PCR analysis revealed that plants could activate molecular responses to transform and utilize both γ-Fe2O3 NPs and Fe3+.