Thomas G. Benoit, Jennifer Locke, James R. Marks, Clark W. Beasley, Florida Entomologist
This Florida Entomologist scholarly article (3-page PDF) investigates the ability of tardigrades, also known as water bears, to transmit phytopathogenic bacteria to suitable plant hosts where they could then cause disease. The study showed that when tardigrades were inoculated with Xanthomonas campestris pv. raphani (a type of phytopathogenic bacteria), they shed bacteria that caused leaf spot disease in radish plants.
Subject: Biology:Ecology:Symbiotic Relations, Metabolism, Biology:Microbiology Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Research Results Grade Level: Graduate/Professional, College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)Keywords: water bear, Tardigrada
