“…The presence of the satellite RNA in a viral inoculum often has an effect on the symptoms induced by the helper virus (Francki, 1985). Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellite RNAs have been extensively studied and, up to now, more than 25 isolates originating from widely separated geographical areas have been characterized and sequenced either directly from RNA or from cloned eDNA (Richards et al, 1978;Collmer et al, 1983 ;Gordon & Symons, 1983;Avila-Rincon et al, 1986;Kaper et al, 1986Kaper et al, , 1988Garcia-Arenal et al, 1987;Hidaka et al, 1988;Jacquemond & Lauquin, 1988;Devic et al, 1989;Masuta & Takanami, 1989). These isolates can be classified in two groups (benign or necrogenic) according to their ability to produce symptoms on tomato.…”