A Small RNA Virus with a Divided Genome from Heteronychus arator (F.) [Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae]

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Abstract
Some properties of a small RNA virus isolated from larvae of H. arator [Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae] are described. The virus develops in the cytoplasm of gut and fat body cells and is 30 nm in diameter. The sedimentation coefficient of virus was 137 S and the buoyant density was 1.33g/ml. The single stranded RNA was isolated as 2 species which sedimented at 22 S and 15 S, corresponding to MW of 1.0 and 0.5 .times. 106, respectively. The base ratios of the 2 RNA species were 22 S:A = 29.0, C = 24.1, G = 22.8, U = 24.1; 15 S: A = 26.4, C = 23.8, G = 24.7, U = 25.2. There was 1 major polypeptide, MW 40,000 and 2 minor polypeptides in the virus. The virus was infective for Galleria mellonella and some other insects, but was not infective for mice. No evidence was obtained to suggest that the 2 RNA species were present in different particles.