AIIMS 2019 Botany Bacterial Diseases MCQ Question

Hairy root disease in dicot plants is specifically caused by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, which introduces root-inducing (Ri) plasmids into the plant cells, leading to the formation of hairy roots characterized by uncontrolled growth. In contrast, Agrobacterium tumefaciens is responsible for crown gall disease, while Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium used as a biopesticide and does not cause plant diseases. Meloidogyne incognita, a root-knot nematode, causes root galls but not the hairy root syndrome associated with A. rhizogenes. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for plant pathology and agricultural management.