question_answer 18)

  In virus-infected plants the meristematic tissues in both apical and axillary buds are free of virus because (a) the dividing cells are virus resistant (b) meristems have antiviral compounds (c) the cell division of meristems are faster than the rate of viral multiplication (d) viruses cannot multiply within meristem cell(s)  

Answer:

                  (c) In virus infected plants the meristematic tissues in both apical and axillary buds are free of virus because the multiplication of meristematic cells is faster than replication of viruses. The main reason behind it is the gene silencing. Neither dividing cells are virus resistant nor the meristems have antiviral compounds.