Sample interview questions: How do you assess the impact of plant diseases on plant physiology or biochemical processes?
Sample answer:
Assessing the Impact of Plant Diseases on Plant Physiology and Biochemical Processes
1. Evaluate Plant Growth and Development:
- Monitor changes in plant size, leaf number, stem length, and root growth.
- Measure physiological parameters such as photosynthesis rate, transpiration, and respiration.
- Compare affected plants to healthy controls to determine the degree of impairment.
2. Examine Plant Tissue Health:
- Observe symptoms such as chlorosis, necrosis, wilting, and lesions on leaves, stems, and roots.
- Conduct histological analysis to visualize cellular damage and pathogen colonization.
- Quantify changes in tissue water content, electrolyte leakage, and membrane integrity.
3. Assess Biochemical Alterations:
- Analyze changes in primary and secondary metabolite production, including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
- Measure the activity of enzymes involved in photosynthesis, respiration, and defense pathways.
- Determine the levels of plant hormones and other signaling molecules affected by the disease.
4. Monitor Stress Responses:
- Evaluate the expression of stress-related genes and proteins.
- Measure the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other oxidative stress markers.
- Determine the activati… Read full answer