A novel strategy was adopted to prevent the infection of nematode was based on which process?

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Problem**: The question asks about the novel strategy adopted to prevent nematode infection. To answer this, we need to identify the process that underlies this strategy.

2. **Identifying the Process**: The strategy is based on the principle of RNA interference (RNAi). RNA interference is a biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, effectively silencing specific genes.

3. **Mechanism of RNA Interference**: In the context of nematode infection, particularly root-knot disease in tobacco plants, the strategy involves silencing the mRNA of the nematode. This is achieved through the introduction of complementary double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).

4. **Gene Transfer**: The nematode-specific genes are transferred to the host plant using vectors. These vectors carry the genes that will produce both sense and anti-sense RNA.

5. **Formation of Double-Stranded RNA**: The sense and anti-sense RNA molecules are complementary to each other, leading to the formation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) within the plant.

6. **Initiation of RNA Interference**: The presence of this double-stranded RNA triggers the RNA interference mechanism, which silences the specific mRNA of the nematode, thereby controlling its infection.

7. **Conclusion**: The novel strategy to prevent nematode infection is based on the process of RNA interference, which involves the silencing of nematode-specific mRNA through the introduction of complementary double-stranded RNA.

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