Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect1. Bacteria2. Fungi3. PlantsSelect the correct answer using the code given below.
✓ Correct answer: d) 1, 2 and 3
ExplanationViruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they require a host cell to replicate.They can infect bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and other viruses.Viruses that infect bacteria are called bacteriophages (or simply phages).These viruses play a crucial role in regulating bacterial populations.Phages attach to bacterial cells, inject their genetic material, and hijack the bacterial machinery to replicate themselves.This process often leads to the destruction (lysis) of the bacterial cell.Viruses that infect fungi are called mycoviruses (Mycophages).They do not have an extracellular phase (i.e., they lack the ability to move outside fungal cells).They are linked to plant diseases because they weaken fungi that help plant growth.Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1) infects chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica).Plant viruses are well-known pathogens that cause significant economic losses in agriculture such as the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), Potato Virus Y (PVY), and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV).Plant viruses are typically transmitted by insects, nematode
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