Which statement best describes why resistant plants may still be infected?

Which statement best describes why resistant plants may still be infected?

• A. Resistant plants only resist viruses
• B. Resistance is absolute under all conditions
• C. Resistance is often overcome when environmental factors are favorable
• D. Resistance guarantees immunity after infection

Answer: (C)

Plants have defenses that reduce how easily a pathogen can infect them, but those defenses aren’t foolproof. The effectiveness of resistance can depend on the environment and how hard the pathogen is pushing. When conditions favor the pathogen—such as warm, wet weather, high inoculum pressure, or stressed plants—the pathogen can overcome partial or specific resistances and establish infection. This is why resistant plants may still become infected under the right (or wrong) environmental conditions. So the best statement reflects this dynamic: resistance can be overcome when environmental factors are favorable. It’s not that resistance is absolute in all conditions, nor does resistance guarantee immunity after infection.

Plants have defenses that reduce how easily a pathogen can infect them, but those defenses aren’t foolproof. The effectiveness of resistance can depend on the environment and how hard the pathogen is pushing. When conditions favor the pathogen—such as warm, wet weather, high inoculum pressure, or stressed plants—the pathogen can overcome partial or specific resistances and establish infection. This is why resistant plants may still become infected under the right (or wrong) environmental conditions.

So the best statement reflects this dynamic: resistance can be overcome when environmental factors are favorable. It’s not that resistance is absolute in all conditions, nor does resistance guarantee immunity after infection.