[1] It is prevalent in Japan, China, and Korea and can infect plants of the family Poaceae, which include wheat and corn (see maize stripe virus).

[2] Damage from this disease causes major reductions in rice crop yield every year.

[2] It is spread primarily by Laodelphax[3] striatellus, a small planthopper that feeds and damages rice plants by sap-sucking.

[4] Three other planthopper insects that transmit rice stripe virus include Unkanodes sapporona, Unkanodoes albifascia, and Terthron albovittatum.

[6] Severe infections cause grey necrotic streaks and result in the death of the plant.

Hybrid varieties Chugoku 31 and St No1 were bred in Japan by crossing japonica-type cv.