Abstract
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a persistent plant virus; that is, one that replicates in both its insect vector (thrips) and plants. The viral NSs protein interferes with the plant’s RNA-induced silencing complex that is the first line of defence against virus infection. The NSs protein also interferes with the plant’s jasmonate-signalling pathway and suppresses the formation of insect-repellent terpenes. This makes infected plants more attractive to thrips than uninfected plants. Infected plants also have a higher free amino acid content which favours thrips reproduction. TSWV adapts to new plant hosts by the selection of mutants in its NSs and NSm proteins, mutation being facilitated by the error-prone nature of RNA replication.
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