LAUSR

Significance Multipartite viruses package each of their genome segments in different particles, facing a potentially huge cost if the entire genomic information needs to be present concomitantly. Previous work with the octapartite faba bean necrotic stunt virus (FBNSV) showed this issue can be resolved at the within-host level through a supracellular functioning, as follows: all viral segments do not need to be present within the same host cell but may complement each other through intercellular trafficking of their products (protein or messenger RNA [mRNA]). Here, we show that full-genome infections can be reconstituted and function through separate acquisition and/or inoculation of complementary genome segment sets in recipient hosts, thus decreasing the genomic integrity cost during between-host transmission through a suprahost functioning.