Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314981
Title: New thrips-transmitted plant viruses in Florida crops

Author
item FUNDERBURK, JOSEPH - University Of Florida
item Adkins, Scott

Submitted to: University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agriculture Science
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2015
Publication Date: 2/27/2015
Citation: Funderburk, J.E., Adkins, S.T. 2015. New thrips-transmitted plant viruses in Florida crops. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agriculture Science. 2:1-4.

Interpretive Summary: Tospoviruses are a group of plant infecting viruses that cause economically significant crop losses worldwide. Three vegetable, ornamental and/or peanut infecting tospoviruses are now present in Florida: Tomato spotted wilt virus, Groundnut ringpot virus and Tomato chlorotic spot virus. All three species are transmitted by thrips. This report continues a cooperative research effort between ARS and University of Florida, and provides a timely account of tospovirus infection to growers, Extension personnel and state and Federal regulatory and research scientists.

Technical Abstract: The thrips-transmitted tospoviruses Tomato spotted wilt virus, Groundnut ringspot virus and Tomato chlorotic spot virus are present in south Florida. All three species cause economically significant disease in vegetable and ornamental crops, and may also be problematic in peanut. Control of both the viruses and the thrips vectors makes use of integrated pest management approaches.