Agrobacterium Infects Plants and Causes Them to Form Tumors

Multiple Choice

Agrobacterium infects plants and causes them to form tumors. You determine that tumor formation requires a large amount of the plant's energy for tissue formation. How might this change the number of offspring a plant produces, and what is the most likely explanation for this change?

A) The number of offspring should increase because in general, illness increases the reproductive output of organisms.
B) The number of offspring should increase because the bacteria will provide energy for the plant.
C) The number of offspring should decrease because the plant will divert energy from reproduction to tumor formation.
D) There should be no effect of infection on offspring production because energy for reproduction is independent of infection.