[1] Like other members of the genus Potyvirus, TEV has a monopartite positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome surrounded by a capsid made from a single viral encoded protein.

Agriculturally important crops that it infects include several species of Capsicum (i.e. C. annuum, C. frutescens), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), and tobacco (Nicotiana spp.).

It also infects many perennial weed species that can act as virus reservoirs for susceptible agricultural crops.

However typical symptoms include vein clearing, mottling, and necrotic lines or etching.

A gene construct is created containing the protein of interest fused to a TEV protease recognition site, followed by an affinity tag, such as a polyhistidine-tag.