2024 - Volume #48, Issue #2, Page #19
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These Petunias Light Up At Night
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“Currently, we’re only selling potted plants,” says Keith Wood, Light Bio, Inc. “In the future, we plan to also offer cut flowers. The trait is inherited, so plants from seed are also bioluminescent. However, more development is needed for plants that will breed true from seed.”
Light Bio holds the foundational patents for the technology. The company has collaborated with cell programming specialist Ginkgo Bioworks to introduce the Firefly patent. Wood suggests the two companies are working on additional plant varieties and in additional colors. He anticipates that future plants will be at least 10 times brighter than the Firefly Petunias.
“As part of the scientific team that discovered the bioluminescence genes from fireflies, I helped create the first glowing plant, which has inspired scientists worldwide,” says Wood. “In the years since, we’ve discovered a new bioluminescence technology that now allows us to bring these delightful plants to consumers. We can’t wait to see their reactions and to discover the bright future ahead for this incredible technology.”
Earlier work identified the biochemical reaction that creates bioluminescence in plants using genes from fungi that naturally light up. The researchers optimized the effect by up to 100 times in a variety of plants.
Light Bio chose the petunia for the first commercial product due to its popularity as an ornamental. It’s also easy to grow and produces an abundance of flowers. While often grown as an annual, they can be grown indoors if placed in a sunny spot and provided at least 6 hrs. of direct sunlight.
Firefly Petunias are indistinguishable from conventional petunias aside from their nighttime glow. The plants can be grown in pots, baskets, or gardens and reach 8 to 10 in. They’ll continue to produce light from the seedling stage to maturity. Light is emitted primarily by the flowers, with the youngest glowing brightest.
Only plant stress, such as over or under-watering or pathogens, will interfere with light production. Promoting vigorous growth will produce a brighter glow, as the fastest-growing parts of the plant glow most brightly.
In early February, Light Bio announced the availability of 50,000 plants. They can be pre-ordered from the company website and are approved for shipment to all 48 contiguous states. Plants are priced at $29 each, plus shipping. Orders for plants exceeding $80 receive a 9.2 percent discount. Delivery will begin in April.
“This milestone and the magical experience we are bringing to people across the country has been decades in the making,” said Wood.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Light Bio, Inc. (hello@light.bio; www.light.bio).
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