Question
Explain why plants infected with tobacco mosaic virus grow slowly. [3 marks]
Answer
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Elspeth
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
Plants infected with the tobacco mosaic virus grow slowly because the virus interferes with the plant's protein synthesis, which is crucial for growth. The virus replicates within the plant's cells, diverting resources away from the plant's normal growth and metabolic processes.
Explanation
## Step 1:The tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a pathogenic organism that infects plants, especially those in the tobacco family. It is one of the most well-studied plant viruses and is known to cause a variety of symptoms in the host plant.## Step 2:One of the primary symptoms of TMV infection is stunted or slowed growth. This occurs because the virus interferes with the plant's ability to synthesize proteins, which are crucial for growth and development. ## Step 3:Specifically, TMV replicates within the plant's cells, taking over the cellular machinery for its own reproduction. This process diverts resources away from the plant's normal growth and metabolic processes, leading to slower growth.