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What a bioluminescent petunia had to teach me

https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/society/2024/how-does-bioluminescent-petunia-glow-science

I bought a glowing plant. It led me down a rabbit hole of radiant mushrooms, 19th century experiments and a modern rivalry between scientists in Russia and the Americas.

What a bioluminescent petunia had to teach me

9 comments

5714

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Have there been experiments with wooded plants or do we know that there won't be glowing forests, because it doesn't work like that or something?

Fermion

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Bioluminescent ferns bordering a wooded path would be rather magical.

Doxatek

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I don't think you could get wood/bark to fluoresce as it's dead tissue.. in general some tree species are very easy to work with and engineer. Poplar for example

figjam

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You could totally get glowing fungus to grow on wood

Doxatek

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I have a guide for how to do this at home! Wouldn't let me add the pictures for some reason

5714

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But some parts of the tree must be still living

Doxatek

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Oh yes of course. I just mean the bark wouldn't shine but you could see in the leaves

5714

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But couldn't they target the vascular cambium?

Doxatek

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Sure I suppose. And it may glow. Just wouldn't be able to see it through the dead bark