BACTERIAL “ghosts” could be a new way to treat plants with pesticides. These empty shells of bacterial cells can be filled with chemicals and will stick to leaves and stems even after heavy rain. This could eventually allow less frequent pesticide spraying, a major target as agriculture tries to reduce costs and pollution.
The bacterial ghosts are made from cells of Pectobacterium cypripedii, a species that has evolved to stick to plants. The cells are treated with a protein from a bacteriophage, a virus that infects bacteria. The virus protein creates a tunnel between the inner and outer cell membranes…
