Transgenic tobacco plant was developed to prevent Meloidegyne incognitia infestation. This was based on the method of cellular defence involving synthesis of:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → ds RNA
Option (3) ds RNA — Correct. The plant was given nematode genes that made both sense and anti-sense RNA. These joined into double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which silenced the matching mRNA of the nematode by RNA interference, so the parasite could not survive.
NCERT Extract:
Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture – “… Pest Resistant Plants: Several nematodes parasitise a wide variety of plants and animals including human beings. A nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infects the roots of tobacco plants and causes a great reduction in yield. A novel strategy was adopted to prevent this infestation which was based on the process of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defense. This method involves silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA (silencing).”