Question

The strategy adopted to prevent the infection of Meliodogyne incognita in the roots of tobacco plants is based on the principle of:

• A. Antisense RNA
• B. Bt
• C. DNA hybridization
• D. RNAi

Answer 1

Answer:

D. RNAi

• A nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants which reduces the production of tobacco.

• The infection can be prevented using the RNA interference (RNAi) 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 a transgenic host and so, prevents the plants from pests.