Thrips Vectors of Tospoviruses

Abstract

Tospoviruses belong to the sole phytovirus genus, Tospovirus , in the family Bunyaviridae . Tospoviruses are known to be exclusively transmitted by thrips belonging to the family Thripidae and subfamily Thripinae. Of the known 1,710 species of Thripidae only 14 thrips species are currently reported to transmit tospoviruses. Thrips-transmitted tospoviruses cause severe yield losses to several economically important crops in the United States and worldwide. For instance, a single Tospovirus ( Tomato spotted wilt virus ) alone caused an estimated $1.4 billion in losses in the U.S. over 10 years. Global trade and associated movement of plant materials across borders have introduced tospoviruses and their vectors into newer areas. Advances in serological and molecular techniques have also led to identification of new tospoviruses. This scenario has also initiated new vector-pathogen interactions between introduced and native thrips species and tospoviruses. The goal of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive and updated list of thrips species that serve as vectors of tospoviruses along with information pertaining to common names, key diagnostic characters, distribution, important crops economically affected, and thrips and Tospovirus -induced symptoms. The manuscript is prepared with special emphasis to the U.S., but information pertaining to other countries is also included.