Question

Write a note on viroids?

Answer 1

Viroids are small and infectious RNA particles that do not code for proteins.

They do not possess the protein coat. They are known to infect the plants. They hijack the RNA replicating machinery of the host cell and pathogenesis occurs by silencing of the genes of the host cell as the enzymes will not be available for their expressions. These are considered to be molecular fossils of RNA.