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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329540
Title: Western flower thrips can transmit Tomato spotted wilt virus from infected tomato fruits

Author
item SZOSTEK, S. - Washington State University
item RODRIGUEZ, P. - Heritage University
item SANCHEZ, J. - Heritage University
item Adkins, Scott
item NAIDU, R. - Washington State University

Submitted to: APS Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This report provides an overview of tomato fruit infection by Tomato spotted wilt virus.

Technical Abstract: Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has long been known to spread via plant propagation materials including transplants. Global dissemination of TSWV has also been linked to transport of thrips-infested and virus-infected horticultural and floricultural products through trade and commerce. However, the role of tomato fruits transported across state and national borders has not previously been examined as a means of virus spread or as a source for thrips acquisition of virus. Tomato fruits displaying striking symptoms consisting of chlorotic and necrotic rings, irregular blotches, fruit deformation and discoloration were observed for sale in several grocery stores in eastern Washington State. Many of these symptomatic fruits purchased in grocery stores tested positive for TSWV. First instar larvae of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) successfully acquired TSWV from such infected tomato fruits and transmitted the virus as adults to Emilia sonchifolia plants. Symptomatic E. sonchifolia plants were confirmed positive for TSWV by lateral flow immunoassays and sequence analysis of a portion of the nucleocapsid gene of the S-RNA segment. These results have important implications in the dissemination of TSWV (and likely other tospoviruses) to new geographic areas by human-assisted transport of infected tomato fruits.