Spiroplasma-Mediated Defense Against Parasitic Nematodes

John Jaenike of the University of Rochester in the U.S. will test if Spiroplasma, a bacterial symbiont in Drosophila that confers resistance to nematodes, can be used in crops to confer resistance to plant-parasitic nematodes. The group will examine the effect of Spiroplasma on plant-parasitic nematodes and will attempt to introduce the bacteria into several plant species.