Jim Westwood, Virginia Tech (IMAGE) Virginia Tech Caption Jim Westwood, professor of plant pathology, physiology, and weed science, examines dodder, a parasitic plant with a covert weaponry system. Understanding dodder's covert communications weaponry system, which operates much like a computer virus, could provide researchers with a method to engineer parasite-resistant plants. Credit Virginia Tech Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.