A small replicating RNA, encapsidated with and dependent on, but not part of the viral genome, modifies disease expression depending on the host. In tomato plants, it causes a lethal necrotic disease which is probably the same as that which, in 1972, destroyed most of the field tomato crop in large regions of the French Alsace.

CARNA 5, the small cucummber mosaic virus-dependent replicating RNA which is the causal agent of lethal tomato necrosis disease, causes a drastic reduction of disease symptoms in at least two other plant species. Satellite-like RNA's associated with plant viruses have a disease-regulating function.

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