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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 #194362
Title: FIRST REPORT OF TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS IN TOMATILLO IN FLORIDA

Author
item Adkins, Scott
item MOMOL, M. T. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item DANKERS, H. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Reitz, Stuart
item OLSON, S. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/2006
Publication Date: 6/7/2006
Citation: Adkins, S.T., Momol, M., Dankers, H., Reitz, S.R., Olson, S. 2006. First report of tomato spotted wilt virus in tomatillo in florida. Plant Health Progress.

Interpretive Summary: This is the first report of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infecting tomatillo in Florida. A description of the symptoms and diagnostic methods used to confirm the identity of TSWV are described. This report continues a cooperative virology research effort between ARS and the University of Florida. It also provides a timely account of TSWV infection of tomatillo to growers, Extension personnel and state and Federal regulatory and research scientists.

Technical Abstract: Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa), a member of the Solanaceae, has similar cultural requirements to tomato. It produces an edible, tomato-like fruit that is encased in a papery husk. The fruit is frequently used to make relishes and sauces. In the spring of 2004 and 2005, symptoms similar to those induced by the thrips-vectored Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were observed on tomatillo in northern Florida. Symptoms included chlorosis and stunting of young leaves and distinct chlorotic rings and ring patterns on older leaves. TSWV was specifically identified using commercially available serological reagents. TSWV was not detected in symptomless tomatillo plants. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primer pair gL3637 and gL4510 and primer pair TSWV723 and TSWV 722 amplified fragments of the expected size only from total RNA of symptomatic plants. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of a 579 base pair region of the nucleocapsid (N) protein gene from the TSWV723/TSWV722 RT-PCR product were 95-99% and 95-100% identical, respectively, to TSWV N-gene sequences in GenBank. No product was amplified from total RNA of symptomless plants. During 2004 and 2005, thrips species observed on tomatillo included western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande]) and Florida flower thrips (F. bispinosa [Morgan]). Both species are known vectors of TSWV suggesting one or both as a likely means of tomatillo infection by TSWV. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of TSWV on tomatillo in Florida. TSWV continues to expand its geographic and host ranges and remains an economically important disease constraint for the production of vegetable, agronomic and ornamental crops in the southeastern United States.