It brings "luminous death" to harmful insect larvae, but can also serve as a bioweapon against fungi - the bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens.
The microbe is already being used as a bioinsecticide together with nematodes: the worms infest the larvae, where the bacteria produce toxins and the enzyme luciferase, which causes the larvae to glow.
Sasha Zoske
Sheet maker in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
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Researchers at the University of Mainz have shown that Photorhabdus luminescens occurs in a second form that survives in the soil without symbiosis with worms.
These bacteria can colonize and destroy the mycelium of fungi by breaking down a major component of the cell walls.
The microbiologists demonstrated that this can stop the infestation of beefsteak tomatoes with the fungus Fusarium graminearum.
Agriculture can take advantage of this;
other biotechnological applications are also conceivable.
The link to the study: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/aem.00645-22