One approach uses a nanoparticle coating of light-producing enzymes that cause plants to glow for up to three hours after just 10 to 15 seconds of exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight.

The glowing plants differ from another genetically modified organism on sale in the US market, the Glo Fish, which is fluorescent and only glows under ultraviolet light. The firefly petunia will ...

Eventually, the light output of the plants may be able to change depending on conditions, allowing treated plants to look perfectly normal in the daytime but glow brightly at night.