Disassembly of the capsid in the first cell during infection is a unique process for TMV and other plant viruses in that, once inside the first cell, the virus is within the plant’s multicellular symplasm and able to move cell-to-cell without requiring some processes necessary to enter and disassemble in the first cell (e.g., the CP is not required to move between cells). The gene discussed is CP; the disease is infection.