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Pest Resistance Plants

Various nematodes parasitize a wide variety of plants and animals, including human beings. A nematode. Meloidogyne incognitia, infects the roots of tobacco plants and causes a great reduction in yield. A noval 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). Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). GM plants have been useful in many ways. Genetic modification has: (1) made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat). (ii) reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest- resistant crops). (iii) helped to reduce post harvest losses. (iv) increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants (this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of soil). (v) enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g. golden rice, ie. Vitamin 'A' enriched rice. Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredicatable results when such organisms are introduced into the ecosystem. Therefore, the Indian Government has set up organisations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which will make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services. Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce proteins that kill certain insects such as lepidopterans (tobacco budworm, armyworm). coleopterans (beetles) and dipterans (flies, mosquitoes).

RNA interference involves:

Silencing of specific mRNA due to complementary dsRNA

The correct answer is Option (2) → Silencing of specific mRNA due to complementary dsRNA

Several nematodes infect a wide variety of plants and animals including human beings. A nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infects the roots of tobacco plants which reduce the production of tobacco plants and reduces the production of tobacco. Thus, to prevent this infection a strategy is adopted known as RNA interface (RNAi) which takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defence. This method involves silencing of mRNA due to complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to it and prevents the process of translation of mRNA.

The infection can be prevented using RNA interference process which is checked by silencing of specific mRNA due to a complementary ds RNA. The ds RNA binds and prevents translation of the mRNA. By using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plants which produce both sense and antisense RNA in the host cells. These two RNAs are complementary to each other and form a double stranded RNA (ds RNA) that initiates RNAi and hence, silences the specific mRNA of the nematode. The parasite cannot survive in transgenic host and so, prevents the plants from pests.