Abstract
Pangola stunt virus (PSV) subviral particles (SVPs) were purified from roots and stem bases of Digitaria decumbens (pangola grass); electron microscopy of the preparations showed B-spiked SVPs typical of Fijiviruses. An antiserum of geldiffusion titre 1/1024 was obtained. Serological tests confirmed that both the B spikes and the inner capsid of PSV SVPs were related to those of maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV), though PSV SVPs also carried specific determinants. Isopycnic centrifugation of PSV RNA showed that it is double-stranded, with a G + C content of 41 to 43%. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the RNA consisted of ten segments similar to those of MRDV, though segment eight was present in less than equimolar amounts.