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Molecular Plant Pathology

An Associated Small RNA in Rice Yellow Mottle Sobemovirus Homologous to the Satellite RNA of Lucerne Transient Streak Sobemovirus. O. P. Sehgal, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211; M. G. AbouHaidar(2), D. L. Gellatly(3), I. Ivanov(4), and G. Thottappilly(5). (2)(3)(4)Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada; (5)Biotechnology Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, West Africa. Phytopathology 83:1309-1311. Accepted for publication 3 August 1993. Copyright 1993 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-83-1309.

A low molecular weight RNA (about 210 nucleotides) was detected in virions of some isolates of rice yellow mottle sobemovirus (RYMV). Electrophoretic analysis of virion RNAs in denaturing polyacrylamide gels resolved the presence of both linear and circular forms of this small RNA. Northern transfer and dot blot hybridization tests showed a strong homology between the small RYMV RNA and the satellite RNA of a Canadian isolate of lucerne transient streak sobemovirus. RYMV and barley yellow dwarf luteovirus are the only two known viruses that have host ranges restricted to the monocotyledons and that support replication and encapsidation of low molecular weight RNAs.