Thought to be a virus, not yet identified. It is suggested that it could be a member of a possibly new group of pathogens transmitted by eriophyid mites and which produce large double membrane-bound bodies in infected cells. This group of pathogens could include fig mosaic, rose rosette, thistle mosaic, redbud yellow ringspot and wheat spot mosaic virus. None if not seed-transmitted. Cereals are important crops.
Symptoms can be severe.
Gramineous weeds can carry the pathogen. A new disease of maize and wheat in the High Plains . The high plains virus, representative of a new viral group with possible world wide distribution . A partial host range of the High Plains virus of corn and wheat .