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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 #295265
Title: Detection and characterization of tomato viruses: A case study of emerging tospoviruses in Florida

Author
item Adkins, Scott
item Webster, Craig
item MELLINGER, H - Glades Crop Care
item FRANTZ, GALEN - Glades Crop Care
item Turechek, William
item MCAVOY, EUGENE - University Of Florida
item REITZ, STUART - Oregon State University
item FUNDERBURK, JOSEPH - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2015
Publication Date: 4/1/2015
Citation: Adkins, S.T., Webster, C.G., Mellinger, H.C., Frantz, G., Turechek, W., Mcavoy, E., Reitz, S.R., Funderburk, J.E. 2015. Detection and characterization of tomato viruses: A case study of emerging tospoviruses in Florida. Acta Horticulturae. 1069: 83-85.

Interpretive Summary: The discovery and characterization of two emerging tospoviruses in Florida present an interesting case study of host, geographic and vector ranges that is providing continually evolving information on these pathogens to help growers, scouts, extension personnel, regulatory agencies and scientists.

Technical Abstract: A unique strain of Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), which has undergone genome reassortment with, and contains the medium RNA segment of, Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) emerged in solanaceous vegetables in south Florida in late 2009. A typical (non-reassorted) strain of TCSV was reported from tomato in this same area in 2012. Identification of GRSV and TCSV in Florida extends the known distributions of these viruses beyond South America and South Africa. GRSV and TCSV are relatives of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), the original member of the tospovirus genus of plant viruses. TSWV remains a serious economic limitation to the production of tomatoes, peppers and peanuts in the southeastern U.S. more than 20 years after its appearance. Although TSWV is well-known to Florida tomato producers, scouts, extension personnel and scientists, GRSV and TCSV were relatively unknown until their recent detection in the U.S.