Project Number: 6618-22000-039-28
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 01, 2012
End Date: Jun 30, 2017

Objective:
1) Study thrips vector biology and behavior relative to virus transmission; 2) Develop and test thrips vector management strategies; 3) Evaluate thrips vector management strategies to determine effect on virus transmission.

Approach:
Field, greenhouse and growth chamber experiments will be used with whole plants and leaf discs to study thrips vector biology and behavior, and virus transmission for Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) and Tobacco streak virus (TSV). Several common thrips vector species will be examined. These experiments will yield the biological data for development of new and improvement of current thrips vector management strategies. These strategies will be evaluated for thrips and virus management in replicated field trials.