‘Sneezing’ plants may spread pathogens to their neighbors

Jumping dewdrops might help transmit disease among certain plants such as wheat

wheat dew

BANE OF GRAIN  Disease could spread when sick wheat plants send dewdrops flying, an effect related to the release of merging drops’ surface tension.

andrewburgess/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Next time you pass a wheat field on a dewy morning, you might want to say “gesundheit.”