Fiji disease virus

Fiji disease virus (FDV) belongs to the reoviridae family and infects plants. It is one of the few plant viruses in the Reoviridae family. The type species of the genus Fijivirus, it is the only known member of Fijivirus group 1.

Structure

The virus is between 65-70 nm in diameter. FDV is not enveloped but has a nucleocapsid. The capsid has two layers and is icosohedral. The two known cell surface proteins are A type and B type spikes. The capsid appears round.

Genome

As FDV is a reovirus its genome is also made of dsRNA. The genome is linear and made up of ten segments, consisting of 27000-30500 base pairs. There are at least six structural proteins coded for in the genome. Replication occurs in the host cell cytoplasm or cytoplasmic viroplasma.

Transmission

The virus is transmitted by Delphacidae plant hoppers. The disease is mostly found in Australia because this is the natural habitat of the plant hoppers. It has also been detected in the Philippines. The virus infects the phloem tissues of their Gramineae hosts. Replication can occur in both the host and vector. The result of infection in plants is the development of tumours.

References

ICTV Report, retrieved 2007-02-27 

Description of plant viruses; Notes on Genus: Fijivirus, retrieved 2007-02-27