The correct matching is:
P – i (Bacteriophage lambda – dsDNA), Q – ii (Bacteriophage M13 – ssDNA), R – iii (Coronavirus – ssRNA), S – iv (Reovirus – dsRNA). Hence the right option is (C).​

Question overview

The question asks to match viruses in Column I with the nature of their genetic material in Column II:

• Column II options:
  i. dsDNA
  ii. ssDNA
  iii. ssRNA
  iv. dsRNA

Viruses listed:

• P. Bacteriophage lambda

• Q. Bacteriophage M13

• R. Coronavirus

• S. Reovirus

Correct matches with explanations

P. Bacteriophage lambda

• Lambda phage is a temperate bacteriophage infecting E. coli and has a linear double‑stranded DNA genome of about 48.5 kb.​

• When injected into the host, the DNA circularizes via cohesive ends, but it remains double‑stranded, so bacteriophage lambda is a dsDNA virus.​

Correct pair: P – i (dsDNA)

Q. Bacteriophage M13

• M13 is a filamentous phage that infects F‑pilus–bearing E. coli and carries a circular single‑stranded DNA genome.​

• The genome is positive‑sense ssDNA of about 6.4 kb, which is converted to a double‑stranded replicative form inside the host but is packaged as ssDNA in virions.​

Correct pair: Q – ii (ssDNA)

R. Coronavirus

• Coronaviruses (including SARS‑CoV‑2) possess a large, positive‑sense, single‑stranded RNA genome of about 27–32 kb.​

• The RNA functions directly as mRNA on entry, so coronaviruses are +ssRNA viruses.​

Correct pair: R – iii (ssRNA)

S. Reovirus

• Reoviruses belong to the order Reovirales and have segmented double‑stranded RNA genomes enclosed in multilayered protein capsids.​

• Mammalian orthoreovirus typically contains ten dsRNA segments encoding multiple structural and non‑structural proteins.​

Correct pair: S – iv (dsRNA)

Analysis of each option

Option (A): P – i; Q – iv; R – iii; S – ii

• P – i is correct (lambda – dsDNA).​

• Q – iv is incorrect because M13 has ssDNA, not dsRNA.​

• R – iii is correct (coronavirus – ssRNA).​

• S – ii is incorrect because reovirus has dsRNA, not ssDNA.​

Since two matches are wrong, option (A) is incorrect.

Option (B): P – iv; Q – ii; R – i; S – iii

• P – iv is wrong; lambda is dsDNA, not dsRNA.​

• Q – ii is correct (M13 – ssDNA).​

• R – i is wrong; coronavirus is ssRNA, not dsDNA.​

• S – iii is wrong; reovirus is dsRNA, not ssRNA.​

With three incorrect pairings, option (B) is incorrect.

Option (C): P – i; Q – ii; R – iii; S – iv

• All four pairings match the known genome types of these viruses: lambda – dsDNA, M13 – ssDNA, coronavirus – ssRNA, reovirus – dsRNA.​

Therefore option (C) is correct.

Option (D): P – i; Q – iii; R – i; S – iv

• P – i is correct (lambda – dsDNA).​

• Q – iii is wrong; M13 has ssDNA, not ssRNA.​

• R – i is wrong; coronavirus is ssRNA, not dsDNA.​

• S – iv is correct (reovirus – dsRNA).​

Because two matches are wrong, option (D) is incorrect.

Brief exam‑oriented summary

• Bacteriophage lambda → linear, circularizable dsDNA genome.​

• Bacteriophage M13 → circular ssDNA genome.​

• Coronavirus → positive‑sense ssRNA genome.​

• Reovirus → segmented dsRNA genome.​

Remembering these canonical examples of dsDNA, ssDNA, ssRNA and dsRNA viruses helps in solving MCQs on virus classification and genome type rapidly.