Sneaky virus helps plants multiply, creating more hosts

Infected tomato plants give off special aroma that lures pollinators

infected tomato plant

VIRAL VICTORY  Plants infected with cucumber mosaic virus, like this tomato plant, are often stunted and blemished. But the virus appears to help the sick plants reproduce by making them more attractive to bees. 

Edward Sikora/Auburn University, Bugwood.org 

Instead of destroying its leafy hosts, one common plant virus takes a more backhanded approach to domination.