BARLEY YELLOW DWARF VIRUSES

Barley yellow dwarf viruses represent one of the most economically imp ortant and ubiquitous groups of plant viruses. This review focuses pri marily on four research areas in which progress has been most rapid. T hese include (a) evidence supporting reclassification of BYDVs into tw o genera; (b) elucidation of gene function and novel mechanisms contro lling gene expression; (c) initial forays into understanding the compl ex interactions between BYDV virions and their aphid vectors; and (d) replication of a BYDV satellite RNA. Economic losses, symptomatology, and means of control of BYD are also discussed.