A researcher comes across a plant that has been infected by a pathogen. As a result of the infection, the plant has undergone a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) response and has also generated several siRNAs. Based on this response, what type of pathogen MOST likely infected the plant?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of siRNAs suggests that the pathogen was a virus, as siRNAs are produced as part of the plant's RNA interference (RNAi) response to viral infection. SAR, on the other hand, is a broad-based defense response that can be activated by a variety of pathogens, so it does not provide definitive information about the type of pathogen that infected the plant.

A Researcher Comes Across a Plant That Has Been Infected