Assertion : Agrobacterium tumefaciens is popular in genetic engineering because this bacterium is associated with the roots of all cereal and pulse crops.
Reason : A gene incorporated in the bacterial chromosomal genome gets automatically transferred to the crop with which the bacterium is associated .

Options

A. If both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B. If both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
C. If A is true and R is false
D. If both A and R are false

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Assertion:**
- The assertion states that "Agrobacterium tumefaciens is popular in genetic engineering because this bacterium is associated with the roots of all cereal and pulse crops."
- We need to evaluate whether this statement is true or false.

2. **Evaluating the Assertion:**
- Agrobacterium tumefaciens is known to infect the roots of certain plants, specifically eudicot plants, and causes a disease known as crown gall disease.
- However, it does not infect monocot plants, which include most cereals (like wheat, rice, and corn).
- Therefore, the assertion is false because it incorrectly claims that Agrobacterium is associated with all cereal crops.

3. **Understanding the Reason:**
- The reason states, "A gene incorporated in the bacterial chromosomal genome gets automatically transferred to the crop with which the bacterium is associated."
- We need to evaluate whether this statement is true or false.

4. **Evaluating the Reason:**
- Agrobacterium contains a plasmid known as the Ti plasmid, which is responsible for transferring genes into plant cells.
- For genetic engineering purposes, desired genes are typically linked to the Ti plasmid, not the bacterial chromosomal genome.
- Therefore, the reason is also false because it incorrectly states that genes incorporated into the bacterial chromosome are transferred to the plant.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Both the assertion and the reason are false.
- Thus, the correct answer is that both the assertion and reason are false.

**Final Answer:**
Both Assertion and Reason are false.

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