A viral disease transmitted by green leafhoppers (Nephotettix sp.). The first symptom of yellow dwarf is general chlorosis, especially on the newly emerged and young leaves. The colour varies from yellowish to green. As the disease progresses, the infected plants become severely stunted, tillering increases markedly, and leaves become soft and droopy. The infected plants produce either no panicles or a few small panicles, which bear mostly unfilled spikelets.