A novel strategy to prevent infestation of roots of tobacco plant with the nematode Meloidegyne incognitia is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → RNA interference
Option (1) DNA interference — Incorrect. There is no such process; the silencing is done by RNA.
Option (2) DNA-RNA interference — Incorrect. There is no such process.
Option (3) RNA interference — Correct. Nematode-specific genes were put into the tobacco plant through Agrobacterium. The plant made both sense and antisense RNA of these genes; the two formed double-stranded RNA, which silenced the matching mRNA of the nematode, so the parasite could not survive.
Option (4) RNA-Protein interference — Incorrect. There is no such process.
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.”