Description:
<jats:p>An isolate of ryegrass mosaic virus (RMV‐SA) was found in Italian ryegrass plants in two areas in South Africa. Preliminary characterization indicated that the virus exhibited the same symptoms and host range as RMV strains previously found in Canada and the UK. The virus was transmitted by the eriophyid mite <jats:italic>Abacarus hystrix.</jats:italic> Particle structure and size were comparable to the USA and UK strains. The coat protein and RNA were found to be slightly larger than previously reported, being 32kDa and 2·8 × 10<jats:sup>6</jats:sup>, respectively. The virus exhibited serological cross‐reactivity with antisera to RMV‐Wales and RMV‐Canada but was not serologically related to other Rymovirus members.</jats:p>