Variation Among Virginia Market-Type Peanut Genotypes in Susceptibility to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Vectored by Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Abstract

Abstract Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), a thrips-vectored tospovirus, is an important pathogen of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Development of tolerant cultivars has proven to be one of the most promising methods to manage the disease. Twenty-four genotypes of virginia market-type peanut were monitored in field tests for thrips damage, and TSWV incidence and severity during 2004 and 2005 in North Carolina. The cultivar Gregory had a higher density of adult thrips in foliage than any other genotype, while breeding lines N01057 and N03054E had the lowest density. No significant correlation was detected between thrips density or injury and TSWV incidence. Line N03036EJ had the greatest TSWV incidence, but did not differ from cultivars Gregory or Perry in incidence. Line N00033 had the least TSWV incidence and differed from the cultivars Gregory and Perry. The occurrence of late-season chlorosis or peanut yellowing death (PYD) was highly correlated with TSWV infection (P < 0.0001). Breeding line N02051ol had the greatest incidence of PYD, but did not differ statistically from Gregory or Perry. Lines N03023EF and N01083 had the least PYD incidence. Plants infected with TSWV not expressing foliar symptoms were found in far greater abundance than plants that were infected and symptomatic. Line N03036EJ had the greatest proportion of infected but asymptomatic plants; line N03054E had the least. Susceptible lines are more likely to become infected, rather than just more likely to show spotted wilt symptoms.