Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 3, 2026

Closterovirus

Closterovirus, also known as beet yellows viral group, is a genus of viruses, in the family Closteroviridae. Plants serve as natural hosts. There are 24 species in this genus. Diseases associated with this genus include: yellowing and necrosis, particularly affecting the phloem. This genus has a probably worldwide distribution and includes among other viral species the Beet yellows virus and Citrus tristeza virus, rather economically important plant diseases. At least some species require vectors such as aphids or mealybugs for their transmission from plant to plant.

Last revised
Aug 3, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
574 w
Citations
13
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Closterovirus
Virus classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Orthornavirae
Phylum: Kitrinoviricota
Class: Alsuviricetes
Order: Martellivirales
Family: Closteroviridae
Genus: Closterovirus
3'-terminal pseudoknot in BYV
Predicted secondary structure of the 3'-terminal pseudoknot in BYV
Identifiers
RfamRF01100
Other data
RNA typeCis-reg
DomainClosterovirus
PDB structuresPDBe

Closterovirus, also known as beet yellows viral group, is a genus of viruses, in the family Closteroviridae.1 Plants serve as natural hosts. There are 24 species in this genus.12 Diseases associated with this genus include: yellowing and necrosis, particularly affecting the phloem.13 This genus has a probably worldwide distribution and includes among other viral species the Beet yellows virus and Citrus tristeza virus, rather economically important plant diseases. At least some species require vectors such as aphids or mealybugs for their transmission from plant to plant.1

Taxonomy

The following species are assigned to the genus, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species:2

  • Closterovirus alphafici, Fig virus A
  • Closterovirus arracaciae, Arracacha virus 1
  • Closterovirus betafici, Fig virus B
  • Closterovirus carotae, Carrot closterovirus 1
  • Closterovirus cnidi, Cnidium closterovirus 1
  • Closterovirus dregeae, Dregea volubilis virus 1
  • Closterovirus duocarotae, Carrot closterovirus 2
  • Closterovirus flavibetae, Beet yellows virus
  • Closterovirus flavicarotae, Carrot yellow leaf virus
  • Closterovirus flavitritici, Wheat yellow leaf virus
  • Closterovirus fragariae, Strawberry chlorotic fleck-associated virus
  • Closterovirus macularubi, Raspberry leaf mottle virus
  • Closterovirus menthae, Mint virus 1
  • Closterovirus nanobetae, Beet yellow stunt virus
  • Closterovirus necrodianthi, Carnation necrotic fleck virus
  • Closterovirus rehmanniae, Rehmannia virus 1
  • Closterovirus rosafolium, Rose leaf rosette-associated virus
  • Closterovirus stellariae, Stellaria aquatica virus C
  • Closterovirus tabaci, Tobacco virus 1
  • Closterovirus thesii, Thesium chinense closterovirus 1
  • Closterovirus tristezae, Citrus tristeza virus
  • Closterovirus tritici, Wheat closterovirus 1
  • Closterovirus uniribi, Blackcurrant closterovirus 1
  • Closterovirus vitis, Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2

RNA pseudoknot

The viral RNA molecules of some members of this genus contain four hair-pin structures and a pseudoknot in the 3'UTR.4 These secondary structures have been found to be important in viral RNA replication.5

Life cycle

Viral replication is cytoplasmic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by penetration into the host cell. Replication follows the positive stranded RNA virus replication model. Positive stranded rna virus transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by tubule-guided viral movement. Plants serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are mechanical.13

Genus Host details Tissue tropism Entry details Release details Replication site Assembly site Transmission
Closterovirus Plants None Viral movement; mechanical inoculation Viral movement Cytoplasm Cytoplasm Mechanical inoculation: insects

Structure

Viruses in Closterovirus are non-enveloped, with flexuous and filamentous geometries. The diameter is around 10–13 nm, with a length of 1250–2200 nm. Genomes are linear, around 19.3kb in length.13

Genus Structure Symmetry Capsid Genomic arrangement Genomic segmentation
Closterovirus Filamentous Non-enveloped Linear Monopartite
References

References

  1. "ICTV Report Closteroviridae".
  2. "Virus Taxonomy: 2025 Release". International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  3. "Viral Zone". ExPASy. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. Livieratos IC, Eliasco E, Müller G, et al. (July 2004). "Analysis of the RNA of Potato yellow vein virus: evidence for a tripartite genome and conserved 3'-terminal structures among members of the genus Crinivirus". J. Gen. Virol. 85 (Pt 7): 2065–75. doi:10.1099/vir.0.79910-0. hdl:1887/3629824. PMID 15218192.
  5. Satyanarayana T, Gowda S, Ayllón MA, Albiach-Martí MR, Dawson WO (August 2002). "Mutational analysis of the replication signals in the 3'-nontranslated region of citrus tristeza virus". Virology. 300 (1): 140–52. doi:10.1006/viro.2002.1550. PMID 12202214.
External links