Correct option is B
The correct answer is: B) Viroid
Explanation:
The smallest pathogenic agent is a viroid. Viroids are composed solely of a short strand of circular RNA and lack a protein coat, which makes them much smaller than viruses. They primarily infect plants and cause diseases by disrupting the plant’s genetic machinery.
The smallest pathogenic agent is a viroid. Viroids are composed solely of a short strand of circular RNA and lack a protein coat, which makes them much smaller than viruses. They primarily infect plants and cause diseases by disrupting the plant’s genetic machinery.
Their size is much smaller than that of viruses, which are already very small compared to bacteria.
Information Key Points:
They cause diseases in plants, such as potato spindle tuber disease and citrus exocortis.
Viroids are capable of replicating and causing damage in host cells despite their simplicity.
Additional Information (Other Options):
Virus: Viruses are pathogens that consist of a small amount of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat.
Virusoid: A virusoid is a subviral agent that requires a helper virus to replicate.
Prion: Prions are infectious proteins that cause diseases like mad cow disease.
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