Visible light-controlled NO generation for photoreceptor-mediated plant root growth regulation

Nitric oxide (NO) is an essential redox-signaling molecule free radical, contributes a significant role in a diverse range of physiological processes. Photo-triggered NO donors have significant potential compared to other NO donors because it releases NO in the presence of light. Hence, an efficient visible light-triggered NO donor is designed and synthesized by coupling 2,6-dimethyl nitrobenzene moiety at the peri-position of 1, 8-naphthalimide. The NO-releasing ability is validated using various spectroscopic techniques, the photoproduct is characterized, and finally, the NO generation quantum yield is also determined. Furthermore, the photo-generated NO has been employed to Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant to examine the effect of photoreceptor-mediated NO uptake on plant root growth regulation molecule. [Display omitted] •Designed and synthesized a 1,8-naphthalimide-based probe (Ni–NO2) for the visible-light-induced NO generation.•The NO release from Ni–NO2 is fully characterized by various analytical techniques.•Photo-generated NO has been utilized for the plant root growth regulation under white and blue light irradiation.•Results confirm an effective regulation of photoreceptor-mediated root growth in a dose-dependent manner.