Monitoring Plant Health with Near-Infrared Fluorescent H₂O₂ Nanosensors

Near-infrared (nIR) fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were designed and interfaced with leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana plants to report hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a key signaling molecule associated with the onset of plant stress. The sensor nIR fluorescence response (>900 nm) is quenched by H2O2 with selectivity against other stress-associated signaling molecules and within the plant physiological range (10−100 H2O2 μM). In vivo remote nIR imaging of H2O2 sensors enabled optical monitoring of plant health in response to stresses including UV-B light (−11%), high light (−6%), and a pathogen-related peptide (flg22) (−10%), but not mechanical leaf wounding (<3%). The sensor’s high biocompatibility was reflected on similar leaf cell death (<5%) and photosynthetic rates to controls without SWCNT. These optical nanosensors report early signs of stress and will improve our understanding of plant stress communication, provide novel tools for precision agriculture, and optimize the use of agrochemicals in the environment.