Tomato Spotted Wilt Tosporvirus and its Thrips Vectors: Epidemiology, Insect/Virus Interactions and Control

Abstract

Objectives. The major aim of the proposed research was to study thrips-TSWV relationships and their role in the epidemiology of the virus with the aim of using this knowledge to reduce crop losses occurring due to epidemics. Our specific objectives were: To determine the major factors involved in virus outbreaks, including: a) identifying the thrips species involved in virus dissemination and their relative role in virus spread; b) determining the virus sources among wild and cultivated plants throughout the season and their role in virus spread, and, c) determining how temperature and molecular variations in isolates impact virus replication in plants and insects and impact the transmission cycle. Background to the topic. Tospoviruses are among the most important emerging plant viruses that impact production of agricultural and ornamental crops. Evolution of tospoviruses and their relationships with thrips vector species have been of great interest because of crop damage caused world wide and the complete absence of suitable methods of control. Tospoviruses threaten crops in Israel and the United States. By understanding the factors contributing to epidemics and the specific relationships between thrips species and particular tospoviruses we hope that new strategies for control can be developed that will benefit agriculture in both Israel and the United States. Major conclusions, solutions, achievements. We determined that at least three tospoviruses were involved in epidemics in Israel and the United States, tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) and iris yellow spot virus (IYSV). We detected and characterized INSV for the first time in Israel and, through our efforts, IYSV was detected and characterized for the first time in both countries. We demonstrated that many thrips species were present in commercial production areas and trap color influenced thrips catch. Frankliniella occidentalis was the major vector species of INSV and TSWV and populations varied in transmission efficiency. Thrips tabaci is the sole known vector of IYSV and experiments in both countries indicated that F. occidentalis is not a vector of this new tospovirus. Alternate plant hosts were identified for each virus. A new monitoring system combining sticky cards and petunia indicator plants was developed to identify sources of infective thrips. This system has been highly successful in the U.S. and was used to demonstrate to growers that removal of plant sources of infective thrips has a dramatic impact on virus incidence. Finally, a putative thrips receptor mediating acquisition of TSWV was discovered. Implications, scientific and agricultural. Our findings have contributed to new control measures that will benefit agriculture. Identification of a putative thrips receptor for TSWV and our findings relative to thrips/tospovirus specificity have implications for development of innovative new control strategies.