viroid

(noun)

plant pathogens that consist of just a short section of RNA, but without the protein coat typical of viruses

Related Terms

Examples of viroid in the following topics:

  • Prions and Viroids

    • Prions are infectious particles that contain no nucleic acids, and viroids are small plant pathogens that do not encode proteins.
    • Viroids are plant pathogens: small, single-stranded, circular RNA particles that are much simpler than a virus.
    • Viroids do not, however, manufacture any proteins.
    • Human diseases caused by viroids have yet to be identified.
    • These potatoes have been infected by the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV).