Most Viruses That Infect Plants Have the Following Type of Genome

Question

Most viruses that infect plants have the following type of genome?
A) ssDNA, positive sense
B) ssDNA, negative sense
C) ssRNA, positive sense
D) ssRNA, negative sense
E) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Most plant viruses have a single-stranded RNA genome, which is usually positive-sense, meaning that the viral RNA can be directly translated into proteins by the host cell. Only a few plant viruses have a DNA genome, and they are usually double-stranded. Negative-sense genomes are relatively rare in plant viruses. Therefore, option C is the best choice.