Plant Disease (2002) 86, 573-582

R.L. Groves, J.F. Walgenbach, J.W. Moyer and G.G. Kennedy (2002)
The role of weed hosts and tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, in the epidemiology of Tomato spotted wilt virus
Plant Disease 86 (6), 573-582
Abstract: Wild plant species were systematically sampled to characterize reproduction of thrips, the vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and natural sources TSWV infection. Thrips populations were monitored on 28 common perennial, biennial, and annual plant species over two noncrop seasons at six field locations across North Carolina. Sonchus asper, Stellaria media, and Taraxacum officianale consistently supported the largest populations of immature TSWV vector species. The tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, was the most abundant TSWV vector species collected, comprising over 95% of vector species in each survey season. Perennial plant species (i.e., Plantago rugelii and Taraxacum officianale) were often only locally abundant, and many annual species (Cerastium vulgatum, Sonchus asper, and Stellaria media) were more widely distributed. Perennial species, including P. rugelii and Rumex crispus, remained TSWV infected for 2 years in a small-plot field test. Where these perennial species are locally abundant, they may serve as important and long-lasting TSWV inoculum sources. In random surveys across 12 locations in North Carolina, TSWV infection was documented by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 35 of 72 (49%) common perennial (N = 10), biennial (N = 4), and annual (N = 21) plant species across 18 plant families. Estimated rates of TSWV infection were highest in Cerastium vulgatum (4.2%), Lactuca scariola (1.3%), Molluga verticillata (4.3%), Plantago rugelii (3.4%), Ranunculus sardous (3.6%), Sonchus asper (5.1%), Stellaria media (1.4%), and Taraxacum officianale (5.8%). Nine plant species were determined to be new host recordings for TSWV infection, including Cardamine hirsuta, Eupatorium capillifolium, Geranium carolinianum, Gnaphalium purpureum, Linaria canadense, Molluga verticillata, Pyrrhopappus carolinianus, Raphanus raphanistrum, and Triodanis perfoliata. Our findings document the relative potential of a number of common annual, biennial, and perennial plant species to act as important reproductive sites for F. fusca and as acquisition sources of TSWV for spread to susceptible crops.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): James F. Walgenbach, George G. Kennedy, James W. Moyer

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae		U.S.A. (SE)
	Taraxacum officinale (weed)		U.S.A. (SE)
	Stellaria media (weed)		U.S.A. (SE)
	Sonchus asper (weed)		U.S.A. (SE)
	Frankliniella fusca		U.S.A. (SE)