In　this　work,　a　novel　fluorescent　sensing　strategy　was　developed　for　the　detection　of　Hg2+　with　excellent　sensitivity　and　selectivity　using　a　metal-induced　disaggregation　of　aggregated　squaraine　molecules　with　the　help　of　ethylenediaminetetreaacetic　acid　(EDTA).　This　EDTA　promoted　probe　exhibited　a　specific　＇turn　on＇　fluorescent　response　to　Hg2+　with　a　detection　limit　of　7.6　×　10-9　M　(3σ/k).　Owning　to　the　high　coordinating　ability　of　EDTA　and　dithiocarbamate　tethered　squaraine　dye　toward　Hg2+,　the　disaggregation　process　could　be　improved　by　EDTA　via　the　formation　of　squaraine-Hg2+-EDTA　trinary　complex,　resulting　in　a　greater　fluorescent　release,　and　this　novel　phenomenon　has　been　confirmed　by　light　scattering　experiments,　1H　NMR,　IR　and　MS.　©　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.