Question

The picture given below shows:


(a) Roots of a typical control tobacco crop plant (infected).
(b) Transgenic tobacco plant showing healthy roots even after deliberate infection by nematode.
Explain how this transformation was achieved in the tobacco plant.

Hint:

Genetic engineering using Agrobacterium tumefaciens is commonly used to introduce resistance genes into plants, providing resistance to various pests and diseases.

Answer 1

The transformation in the tobacco plant was likely achieved by genetic modification using the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This bacterium transfers a part of its DNA (T-DNA) into the plant’s genome, conferring resistance to nematode infection. The transgenic plants were engineered to express genes that provide resistance to nematode damage, allowing them to grow healthy roots even after infection.