viruliferous

English

Etymology

From virulence +‎ -i- +‎ -ferous.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪfəɹəs

Adjective

viruliferous (comparative more viruliferous, superlative most viruliferous)

1. (biology, agriculture) Virus-carrying, especially of insects which infest agricultural crops.
   • 1968, M. J. Crampton and L. E. Watts, "Genetic Studies of Pea Leaf-Roll (Top-Yellows) Virus Resistance in Pisum sativum," New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, vol, 11, no. 4, p. 773 (Google preview):

     Circumstantial evidence suggests that heavy infestation by viruliferous aphids can overcome the highest degree of host plant resistance.

   • 1992 September 3, “Farmers concerned about frost, wheat ready for planting”, in McCook Daily Gazette, retrieved 6 March 2013, page 8:

     Viruliferous curl mites increase during summer on volunteer wheat, and are carried by air currents into the new wheat crop.

   • 2007 July 10, “Resistant variety of maize giving some hope”, in The Hindu, retrieved 6 March 2013:

     Maize streak virus, an endemic pathogen of native African grasses, was then carried to maize plants by viruliferous leafhoppers.

References

• “viruliferous”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.