Natural weed hosts oftomato spotted wilt virus(TSWV) in Hungary

Abstract

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is the type member of the Tospovirus genus. It was first described on tomato plants in Australia (Brittlebank 1919). During the past century the virus became distributed throughout all over the world. In Europe, TSWV was found first in England by Smith (1932). Nagy and Ligeti (1972) found it in tobacco plants in Hungary. TSWV causes, severe yield losses in tobacco, pepper, tomato and potato production in Hungary (Gaborj&nyi et al. 1993, 1995, 2002, Horv&th et al. 2001). TSWV is transmitted by thrips vectors (e.g. Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci) in a circulative manner (Jenser ds Tasnadi 1989). TSWV has more than 1000 natural and experimental host plant species (Parrella et al. 2003). Infected weeds that are hosts of the thrips vectors also, in vegetable-growing regions play an important role in the epidemiology of the virus. Under our climate, TSWV can overwinter in infected thrips vectors and virusreservoir weeds (Jenser 1995). TSWV has become one of the most important virus pathogen in vegetable production on the southern part of Hungary, because of widespreading of virus vector (F. occidentalis) and virus reservoir weed species.