The complete cDNA sequence corresponding to the genomic RNA of an isolate bamboo mosaic potexvirus (BaMV-V) from common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris McClure) was determined. This isolate is the first potexvirus with which a satellite RNA has been associated. The genome organization of BaMV-V, similar to those of other potexviruses, contained five open reading frames (ORFs 1-5) coding for polypeptides with molecular weight of 156 kDa, 28 kDa, 13 kDa, 6 kDa, and 25 kDa, respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed a 10.0% difference from the BaMV-O isolate previously described whereas the amino acid comparison showed a difference of 3.2%. When three conservative domains of RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) were used for phylogenetic analysis, the greatest variation between two strains of each virus was only 12.8% of that between the two closest members of the potexvirus group. The grouping of potexviruses distinct from other groups of plant viruses was also confirmed by a comparision of three conservative motifs of RdRp.