Plant viruses are characterized by which of the following?

Plant viruses are characterized by which of the following?

• A. Pathogens too small to see; can stunt plants, discolor leaves and flowers, cause malformed tissues; spread by aphids, leafhoppers, thrips
• B. Visible pathogens that spread by soil only
• C. Beneficial to plant growth
• D. Not capable of spreading between plants

Answer: (A)

Plant viruses are microscopic infectious agents that infect plants and are not visible to the naked eye. They commonly cause stunting, leaf and flower discoloration, and malformed tissues as they disrupt normal growth and development. They move from plant to plant mainly through insect vectors that feed on plant sap, such as aphids, leafhoppers, and thrips. This combination of being tiny, producing characteristic symptoms, and spreading via insect feeders makes this the best description. They are not simply soil-borne pathogens, they are not beneficial to plant growth, and they can spread between plants through vectors or other transmission routes.

Plant viruses are microscopic infectious agents that infect plants and are not visible to the naked eye. They commonly cause stunting, leaf and flower discoloration, and malformed tissues as they disrupt normal growth and development. They move from plant to plant mainly through insect vectors that feed on plant sap, such as aphids, leafhoppers, and thrips. This combination of being tiny, producing characteristic symptoms, and spreading via insect feeders makes this the best description. They are not simply soil-borne pathogens, they are not beneficial to plant growth, and they can spread between plants through vectors or other transmission routes.