The ability of a plant to withstand infection by a pest is called what?

• A. Resistance
• B. Immunity
• C. Tolerance
• D. Susceptibility

Answer: (A)

The key idea is a plant’s ability to limit pest infection or damage. When a plant is resistant, it has traits (genetic or physiological) that make it harder for pests to establish, grow, or cause harm, so the overall impact on the plant is reduced. Importantly, resistance doesn’t always mean the pest can’t attack at all; it means the pest’s success is slowed and the injury is less severe.

Immunity would mean the plant is completely free from infection, which is uncommon for most plant–pest interactions. Tolerance, on the other hand, describes plants that can endure infection and continue to perform well despite damage, rather than preventing the infection itself. Susceptibility is simply the opposite of resistance: the plant is easily infected and damaged.

So the term that best fits “the ability of a plant to withstand infection by a pest” is resistance.