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The solubilized form of aluminum, Al³⁺, is present under acid soil conditions and toxic to both animals and plants. Detecting and quantifying Al³⁺ is vital for both chemistry and biology. A new Schiff-based fluorescent turn-on sensor (probe <b>L</b>) for the selective detection of the Al³⁺ ion was synthesized by coupling 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and 2-aminoisoindoline-1,3-dione, and the structure was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The probe <b>L</b> exhibited an excellent selective and sensitive response to the Al³⁺ ion over other metal ions in DMSO-H₂O (1:9 <i>v</i>/<i>v</i>). Fluorescence quantification revealed that probe <b>L</b> was promising for the detection and accumulation of Al³⁺. Treating rice seedlings with Al³⁺ at 25&#8315;200 &#956;M inhibited their growth. Al³⁺ treatment produced reactive oxygen species in rice roots. Practical applications of the fluorescent probe for the quantification of Al³⁺ in water samples and rice seedlings are demonstrated. Detecting the Al³⁺ ion with the probe <b>L</b> is easy and a potential alternative to existing analytical methods. The method can be used for detecting the Al³⁺ content of aqueous solution and plant systems. The novel fluorescent probe <b>L</b> has good potential for monitoring Al³⁺ content in the environment and biological systems.