Modes of transmission and stability of Rice yellow mottle virus

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is the most important rice virus in Africa. We examined RYMV transmission via soil and water contaminated with RYMV-infected rice plants and by serial cutting with RYMV-contaminated scissors. Transmission of RYMV via dried rice straw kept at 27°C was also examined. The results showed the virus could be transmitted via soil and water, and by scissors. Rice straw that was RYMV-infected was not infective if it was dried and was kept longer than 42 days. By insect transmis- sion experiments and ELISA, long-horned grasshoppers (Conocephalus spp.) were found to be a possible vector of RYMV in Uganda.