ABSTRACT
The name of the Luteovirus group of viruses is derived from the Latin word luteus, meaning yellow, in recognition of the yellowing symptoms that many members induce in their plant hosts. The viruses have polyhedral particles with reported diameters between 25 and 30 nm and sedimentation coefficients of about 115S. The large number of viruses that have been listed as members, probable members, and possible members of the group may not give a true picture of the membership, which will probably need considerable modification in the future. Luteoviruses have in the past been named and differentiated purely on biological properties, mainly by the hosts they infect and their vector specificities. The confusion concerning the taxonomy of Luteoviruses can raise problems in their field identification, and hence in control of the diseases they cause. The reported diameter of negatively stained Luteovirus particles varies considerably.
