[1] Oryza sativa for RDV and RGDV, dicotyledonous for WTV, and leafhoppers serve as natural hosts.

[2][3] One member of this family, Rice Dwarf Virus (RDV), has been extensively studied by electron cryomicroscopy and x-ray crystallography.

Like all other reoviruses, they contain their own RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, allowing for endogenous synthesis of viral mRNA within the virus.

[1] The following three species are assigned to the genus:[3] Viruses in Phytoreovirus are non-enveloped, with icosahedral geometries, and T=13, T=2 symmetry.

Segments range in size from 1066 to 4423 base pairs, resulting in a total genome length of around 26kb.

The virus exits the host cell by monopartite non-tubule guided viral movement.