In plants, bacterial infection sometimes leads to the production of an oil, methyl salicylate - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 23 - 2007 - Paper 1
Question 23
In plants, bacterial infection sometimes leads to the production of an oil, methyl salicylate. This oil can travel through the air and reaches neighbouring plants th... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In plants, bacterial infection sometimes leads to the production of an oil, methyl salicylate - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 23 - 2007 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. methyl salicylate is a pheromone.
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Answer
This statement is not reasonable since methyl salicylate functions primarily in plant defense signaling rather than exhibiting classic pheromonal properties, which involve communication between organisms of the same species.
Step 2
B. the infecting bacteria produce methyl salicylate.
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There is no evidence suggesting that the bacteria are capable of producing methyl salicylate. The production is induced within the plant due to stressor signals.
Step 3
C. methyl salicylate lacks a specific message for recipient cells.
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Methyl salicylate serves a signaling role but may not provide a specific message for behavior; rather, it signals a general defensive response.
Step 4
D. the recipient plants produce a substance that kills pathogens.
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This is the most reasonable suggestion. The presence of methyl salicylate signals the uninfected plants to activate their defense mechanisms, leading to the production of substances that can inhibit or kill pathogens.
