SEQUENCE OF ECHINOCHLOA-HOJA-BLANCA TENUIVIRUS RNA-4

The sequence is presented of RNA-4 of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivir us (EHBV), one of two tenuiviruses associated with rice cultivation in Latin America (together with rice hoja blanca virus; RHBV). Analysis of the sequence shows that the coding regions of EHBV RNA-4 are closel y related to those of RHBV RNA-4. However, the intergenic region separ ating the two ambisense open reading frames, are highly distinct for t he two viruses. The features of the RNA and the comparisons with the s equences of RNA-4 of RHBV, rice stripe virus (RStV) and maize stripe v irus (MStV) are discussed.