A brilliant world first.
The American start-up Light Bio from Sun Valley (Idaho) has obtained authorization to place a bioluminescent plant on their national market, reports Nature magazine.
Fans will have to pay $29 to pre-order it.
Delivery is scheduled for April 2024.
To discover
February: what vegetables and fruits are in season?
A petunia like no other
The American biotechnology company has developed “Firefly Petunia”, a special petunia.
During the day, it presents white flowers in a very classic way, but once night falls, it offers a completely different spectacle, visible to the naked eye.
It actually emits a pale green glow in the dark.
And this without food or special light.
The flowers and leaves shine the brightest, i.e. the fast-growing parts of the plant.
A plant that can even be installed in a bedroom.
No worries about sleep because the light from this houseplant is gentle and harmless to sleepers near the plant.
Did you know ?
The petunia was chosen by the researchers because the Americans are very fond of this ornamental plant.
Why does it glow at night?
Researchers incorporated genes from a bioluminescent fungus into this genetically modified (GMO) plant.
The journal
Nature
indicates that thanks to these genes, the plant produces enzymes capable of converting caffeic acid into luciferin, an electroluminescent molecule, then recycling it into caffeic acid, thus allowing sustained bioluminescence.
This glowing petunia was chosen because it is not considered an invasive plant.
It should therefore not be a threat to native plants or disrupt ecosystems.
But will this brightness in the gardens disturb insects and other nocturnal animals if the petunia is planted in the garden?