Question

Which part of the plant is best suited for making virus-free plants and why?

Answer 1

A plant’s apical and axillary meristems are ideal for producing virus-free plants. This is because the rate of division of a meristematic cell is faster than the rate of multiplication of a virus; hence, viruses are unable to infiltrate newly created meristematic cells. As a result, meristematic cells are virus-free despite the fact that the entire plant is infected. Using a meristem, a healthy plant can be rescued from a diseased plant using the micropropagation process. Virus-free plants such as bananas, sugarcane, and potatoes have been obtained using this method by scientists.