For the first time, researchers have developed multi-colored plants that can emit light in the dark. (Image: Liu et al., Matter (2025))
Chinese scientists have created rainbow-colored succulents by injecting their leaves with phosphorus particles with an afterglow effect that accumulate and then slowly release light energy.
According to new data, bioluminescent plants maintained their glow for up to two hours, outperforming their synthetic counterparts. Experts noted that this development paves the way for eco-friendly plant lighting for interiors and urban environments.
“Imagine glowing trees instead of street lights,” said project leader Shuting Liu of South China Agricultural University. “The particles were distributed within seconds, and the entire succulent began to emit light uniformly.”
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Previously, attempts were made to achieve plant bioluminescence using both genetic methods and nanomaterials. Genetic engineering uses natural bioluminescent genes, such as those from phytoplankton, but their color palette is limited to the predominantly green spectrum. The introduction of luminescent nanoparticles into foliage produced only a weak glow.
For bright luminescence, the particles must be small enough to penetrate tissue, but large enough to emit visible light. Experiments with nanoparticles based on firefly luciferase provided only a short-term glow that faded within half an hour.
In the current project, Liu and her colleagues used phosphorus particles the size of a human red blood cell (6–8 µm). These micron-sized structures are large enough to glow brightly and move freely inside the plant. “Nanoscale analogs penetrate tissue more easily, but emit less light,” Liu explained.
The results were published on August 27 in the journal Matter.
Micron particles worked effectively only with succulents, but not with Chinese cabbage or epipremnum. For the experiments, Echeveria “Mebina” was used, which has large intercellular spaces that facilitate the penetration of particles.
The scientists activated the plants under sunlight or LED light, obtaining an identical afterglow effect. The green particles demonstrated the maximum duration of glow – up to two hours, comparable to a night lamp.
The team developed the first multi-colored plants by injecting blue, green, red, and purple phosphorus compounds into their leaves. A wall of 56 of these plants illuminated the space enough for reading in the dark.
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“It’s amazing how the artificial micromaterials fit perfectly with the natural architecture of plants,” Liu said. “Their integration seems almost magical.”
According to the study, such plants could be a low-carbon solution for lighting. Scientists plan to adapt the technology to other species that can store solar energy like batteries.
“The process is simple and economical, the glow is activated in 10 minutes, which makes it promising for practical application,” the paper states.
Sasha PareSocial Media
Sasha is a staff writer for Live Science (UK). She holds a BA in Biology from the University of Southampton and an MA in Science Communication from Imperial College London. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian and Zoe. She enjoys tennis, baking, and finding unique items in second-hand stores.
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