Coriander feathery red-vein virus, an aphid-borne, propagative, plant rhabdovirus causing distinct symptoms on coriander, Coriandrum sativa and transmitted by the honeysuckle aphid, Hyadaphis foeniculi is described. The virus was isolated in coriander from naturally infective aphids collected on symptomless parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). Coated bacilliform particles, about 75 × 216 nm were found in infected coriander tissue, most often enclosed within invaginated nuclear cisternae.

Coriander, celery (Apium graveolens), Nicotiana glutinosa, N. clevelandi and their hybrid developed symptoms after aphid inoculation. Once infected, the virus could be moved among the tobacco species by mechanical inoculation. In addition to parsnip, chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris), water hemlock (Cicuta sp.), carrot (Daucus carota), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) were found to be symptomless hosts.

Hyadaphis foeniculi, among twelve aphid species tested, was the only consistent vector.

An examination of the vector-virus relationships indicated acquisition could occur within 2 hours and after a 8.5-day (at 25 C), dosage-sensitive, median latent period, inoculation could take place within 15 to 30 minutes. Insects could remain infective for life, but the mean weighted transmission period ranged from 13 to 20 days. Transovarial passage occurred, with a maternal rate of about 55 percent, and a filial rate of 3 to 10 percent. Five successive serial passages of the virus by injection, with a maintenance of titer, indicated the virus replicated in H. foeniculi. Neither longevity nor the reproductive capacity of the aphid vector appeared to be effected by the infection.