Concept:
Viroids are the smallest known infectious pathogens. They differ significantly from viruses in their structure and composition.
Step 1: Analyze the composition of a viroid.
Unlike viruses, which consist of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat (capsid), viroids are composed solely of a short strand of circular, single-stranded RNA (ssRNA). They lack any protein envelope or capsid (making option 2 and 1 incorrect).
Step 2: Differentiate from other pathogens.
Viroids do not contain DNA (making option 4 incorrect). Their RNA does not code for any proteins; they replicate by hijacking the host cell's enzymes. They primarily cause diseases in plants, such as Potato Spindle Tuber disease.