Question

Name the host plant and its part that Meloidogyne incognita infects. Explain the role of Agrobacterium in the production of ds-RNA in the host plant.

Answer 1

Nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants, the infection of this nematode is very common and destructive as it affects the yield and quality of tobacco.

The agrobacterium are used as vectors carrying nematode specific genes to be introduced into host plant. These genes produced sense and anti-sense RNA strands when expressed inside host plants. It results in the formation of double-stranded RNA and inhibiting or silencing the translation of RNA specified, the process known as RNA interference.