The Role of Weed Hosts and Tobacco Thrips, Frankliniella fusca, in the Epidemiology of Tomato spotted wilt virus

Abstract

Wild plant species were systematically sampled to characterize reproduction of thrips, the vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and natural sources TSWV infection. Thrips populations were monitored on 28 common perennial, biennial, and annual plant species over two noncrop seasons at six field locations across North Carolina. Sonchus asper, Stellaria media, and Taraxacum officianale consistently supported the largest populations of immature TSWV vector species. The tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, was the most abundant TSWV vector species collected, comprising over 95% of vector species in each survey season. Perennial plant species (i.e., Plantago rugelii and Taraxacum officianale) were often only locally abundant, and many annual species (Cerastium vulgatum, Sonchus asper, and Stellaria media) were more widely distributed. Perennial species, including P. rugelii and Rumex crispus, remained TSWV infected for 2 years in a small-plot field test. Where these perennial species are locally abundant, they may serve as important and long-lasting TSWV inoculum sources. In random surveys across 12 locations in North Carolina, TSWV infection was documented by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 35 of 72 (49%) common perennial (N = 10), biennial (N = 4), and annual (N = 21) plant species across 18 plant families. Estimated rates of TSWV infection were highest in Cerastium vulgatum (4.2%), Lactuca scariola (1.3%), Molluga verticillata (4.3%), Plantago rugelii (3.4%), Ranunculus sardous (3.6%), Sonchus asper (5.1%), Stellaria media (1.4%), and Taraxacum officianale (5.8%). Nine plant species were determined to be new host recordings for TSWV infection, including Cardamine hirsuta, Eupatorium capillifolium, Geranium carolinianum, Gnaphalium purpureum, Linaria canadense, Molluga verticillata, Pyrrhopappus carolinianus, Raphanus raphanistrum, and Triodanis perfoliata. Our findings document the relative potential of a number of common annual, biennial, and perennial plant species to act as important reproductive sites for F. fusca and as acquisition sources of TSWV for spread to susceptible crops.

The biology of Canadian weeds. 132. Raphanus raphanistrum L.

“…It was also host to the tobacco thrip, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), in North Carolina (Groves et al 2002) and to F. occidentalis (Pergande) and/or F. bispinosa Morgan in Georgia (McPherson et al 2003).…”

“…In the United States, wild radish was a host species of BWYV in vegetable-sugar beet seed production regions of western Oregon (Hampton et al 1998); the tobacco streak virus (TSV) in tomato fields in California (Cupertino et al 1984); and the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which infects tomato and tobacco crops in North Carolina and Georgia (Groves et al 2002;McPherson et al 2003).…”

Effect of Cultivar and Plant Population on Spotted Wilt in Virginia Market-Type Peanut

“…In North Carolina, numerous weed species are competent sources of virus inoculum (Ullman et al, 1993;Groves et al, 2002). After overwintering on susceptible weed hosts primarily as brachypterous females (Chamberlin et al, 1992;Cho et al, 1995;Brown et al, 1996), thrips begin dispersing to new hosts in late March and early April (Groves et al, 2003).…”

“…After overwintering on susceptible weed hosts primarily as brachypterous females (Chamberlin et al, 1992;Cho et al, 1995;Brown et al, 1996), thrips begin dispersing to new hosts in late March and early April (Groves et al, 2003). In North Carolina, movement of thrips vectors among weed hosts in late winter and spring results in spread of TSWV among weed hosts and an increase in source of TSWV prior to peak flights of tobacco thrips, which typically occur in midto late-May (Eckel et al, 1996;Groves et al, 2002Groves et al, , 2003. Thrips moving into the field during the spring are mostly from nearby sources, and these populations of thrips provide the primary source of inoculum (Todd et al, 1990;Chamberlin et al, 1992;Camann et al, 1995;Brown et al, 1996;Groves et al, 2003).…”

Developmental and Reproductive Performance of the Tobacco Thrips, <i>Frankliniella fusca</i> (Hinds) (Insecta: Thysanoptera), on Leaves of Nicotiana spp.

“…Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has a wide host range that includes several hundreds of plant species over 20 families [1], and it is a serious economic threat to tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L. and peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. [2]- [6].…”