The genomic RNA of papaya ringspot virus (PRV), a member of the potyvirus group, was translated in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system as an approach to determining the translation strategy of the virus. The RNA directed synthesis of more than 20 distinct polypeptides ranging from apparent molecular weight of 26,000 (26K) to 220K. Antiserum to PRV capsid protein (CP) reacted with a subset of these polypeptides, including a 36K protein that comigrated with PRV CP during electrophoresis. Immunoprecipitation with antiserum to PRV cylindrical-inclusion protein (CIP) defined another set of polypeptides including 70K, 108K, 205K, and 220K proteins as major precipitates. The 70K protein comigrated with authentic CIP, and the 205K and 220K proteins were related to both CP and CIP. Immunoprecipitation with antiserum to PRV amorphous-inclusion protein (AIP) defined a unique set of polypeptides which contained a 112K protein as the major precipitate and 51K, 65K, and 86K proteins as minor precipitates. The 51K protein comigrated with authentic AIR A major product of 330K was observed when translation was done without the reducing agent, dithiothreitol. Immunological analyses and kinetic studies indicated that the 330K protein zone was related to the presumed CP, CIP, and AIP zones and 330K possibly is the common precursor for these viral proteins. The presence of a polyprotein of Mr corresponding to the entire coding capacity of the genomic RNA and its likely precursor relationship to the other polypeptides suggest that proteolytic processing is involved in the translation of PRV RNA.