A researcher is studying a single plant infected with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). She crushes three of the plant's leaves in a small amount of water and stores the sample in the refrigerator overnight. The next day she sprays the mixture onto a new set of tobacco plants she had recently trimmed and repotted. Which of the following results will most likely occur?
A) The plant cuticle would protect them from infection and they would continue growing as before.
B) The plants would develop the typical symptoms of TMV infection and would be able to transmit the disease.
C) These plants would not show any disease symptoms but vertical transmission would cause their offspring to be diseased.
D) The plants would become infected with TMV, but extracts from these plants would be unable to infect other plants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a highly infectious virus that can easily be transmitted from one plant to another through mechanical means, such as the application of infected plant material. When the researcher sprays the mixture containing TMV onto new plants, it is likely that these plants will develop the typical symptoms of TMV infection and, in turn, be capable of transmitting the disease to other plants.

A Researcher Is Studying a Single Plant Infected with Tobacco