Alstroemeria plants (Alstroemeria sp. and A. ligtu) with necrotic spots and streaks on leaves were found in Chiba prefecture, Japan. Tospovirus-like enveloped, spherical particles 80-100nm in diameter and filamentous particles 750-850nm in length were observed together in the infected leaves. The enveloped particles were identified as Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) by RT-PCR. Deduced amino acid sequences of the nucleocapsid gene of the two IYSV isolates (designated CbAlsD1 and Als1) were compared with those of IYSV isolates reported previously; the isolates were genetically similar to an isolate from Dutch iris (Iris hollandica) in the Netherlands. A local lesion isolate of CbAlsD1 reproduced the original symptoms on alstroemeria seedlings without the presence of filamentous virions. These results showed that IYSV was the causal virus of necrotic spots and streaks. Naturally infected A. ligtu plants produced new shoots that appeared healthy when grown under thrips-free conditions. Although IYSV could not be detected in these symptomless shoots by RT-PCR alone, the virus was detected by Southern blotting of the RT-PCR products. Therefore, a low level of IYSV virions exist in the symptomless shoots that developed from infected alstroemeria plants.