[1] The disease has often been misdiagnosed as a nutritional problem, but this has actually allowed in part for the fortuitous visual selection by breeding programs of resistant genotypes.

Members of this genus are characterized by rigid rod-shaped particles and positive sense RNA genomes consisting of two molecules that are packaged into separate particles that code for either replication, mobility, structure or defense against the host.

[7] Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus uses the fungal-like protist Polymyxa graminis, an endoparasitic slime mold as a vector.

P. graminis produces resting spores that contain the viral RNA and movement protein for up to 30 years.

The zoospores need water to reach the host so saturated soil conditions maximize dissemination.

Along with the bag, the zoospore contents as well as the virus particles are emptied into the host cortical cell.

After the cortical root cell puncture, one of two types of plasmodia of P. graminis may form inside.

[3] The disease needs an environment that is conducive for infection by the swimming zoospores of the virus’ vector, P. graminis.

The disease favors an environment with cool weather and temperatures near 60 °F (16 °C), and in the US, Soil-borne wheat mosaic occurs mostly throughout eastern and central areas of the country.

[10] Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus is currently distributed over most of the eastern and central United States.

In the initial period of Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus research, host genotypes susceptible to rosette stunting were common and yield losses were recorded at over 50%.

Due to the fact that the viral symptoms are short lived and mimic nutritional deficiencies, the virus's economic significance is often overlooked.