Visualization of Hg Stress on Plant Health at the Subcellular Level Revealed by a Highly Sensitive Fluorescent Sensor.

The presence of Hg causes substantial stress to plants, adversely affecting growth and health by disrupting cell cycle divisions, photosynthesis, and ionic homeostasis. Accurate visualization of the spatiotemporal distribution of Hg in plant tissues is crucial for the management of Hg pollution; however, the related research is still at its early stage. Herein, a small-molecule amphiphilic fluorescent probe (termed ) was developed for the specific detection of Hg with a high sensitivity (~16 nM). Fluorescent imaging applications with not only detected the dynamic distribution of Hg within plant cells at the subcellular level but also enabled the understanding of cell membrane health under Hg stress. This study introduces a valuable imaging tool for elucidating the molecular mechanism of Hg stress in plants, demonstrating the potential of the application of small-molecule fluorescent probes in plant science.