Question

Why was biotechnology required to develop nematode resistance in tobacco plants?

Options

• Because nematodes are immune to natural defences

• Because natural resistance to these nematodes does not naturally occur in most crops

• Because tobacco naturally attracts nematodes

• Because biotechnology is always required for crop improvement

Answer 1

Natural resistance to root-knot nematodes like Meloidogyne incognita does not naturally occur in most crops including tobacco. Therefore, biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques such as RNAi are required to introduce artificial resistance mechanisms into these crops to protect them from nematode damage.