A certain species of bacterium is not very effective at colonizing potato plants because the potato plants have a resistance gene that responds to the presence of the bacterium.Which of the following mutations would make the bacterium more successful at invading the potato plant?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A mutation in the bacterial avirulence gene that prevents the avirulence factor from binding to the plant's resistance factor would allow the bacterium to evade detection by the plant and successfully invade it. Mutations in the plant's resistance gene (choices A and C) would not affect the bacterium's ability to colonize the plant, while a mutation in the avirulence factor that enables it to bind to a different resistance factor in the plant (choice D) would require extensive adaptation by the bacterium and is less likely to occur spontaneously.

A Certain Species of Bacterium Is Not Very Effective at Colonizing