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Title: VECTOR INCOMPETENCE OF FRANKLINIELLA TRITICI IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A BARRIER TO MIDGUT INFECTION BY TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS

Author
item DE ASSIS FILHO, FRANCISCO - UNIV. OF GEORGIA
item STAVISKY, JULIE - NYS INTEGRATED PEST MGMT
item Reitz, Stuart
item DEOM, CARL - UNIV. OF GEORGIA
item SHERWOOD, JOHN - UNIV. OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Proceedings Southern Region American Phytopathology Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2004
Publication Date: 10/1/2004
Citation: De Assis Filho, F.M., Stavisky, J., Reitz, S.R., Deom, C.M., Sherwood, J.L. 2004. Vector incompetence of frankliniella tritici is not associated with a barrier to midgut infection by tomato spotted wilt virus. Proceedings Southern Region American Phytopathology Society. 94:S5.

Interpretive Summary: The eastern flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici, is not known to be a vector of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). However, scientists with USDA-ARS at the Center for Medical Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology located in Tallahassee, FL, and the University of Georgia, and University of Florida have demonstrated that F. tritici can acquire TSWV. Although TSWV replicates within the thrips' midgut, the virus does not move to the thrips' mouthparts, which is necessary for it to be transmitted to plants. Hence, careful consideration must be given to assays to make sure the virus that they identify is in a position to act as a disease agent. Because the modification in F. tritici that allows it acquire this disease appears to have happened in the recent past we now better appreciate the speed with which vector-virus relationships evolve. Future studies will continue to perfect the identification of new and changing disease transmitters, and lead to increasingly effective Integrated Pest Management.

Technical Abstract: The mechanism leading to vector competence of several thirps species to transmit Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has been intensively investigated, but it is not yet well characterized. This study reports on the interaction of TSWV and the non-vector species Frankliniella tritici. By using immunofluorescence microscopy, it was observed that TSWV replicates within the thrips, suggesting that vector incompetence of F. tritici may be associated with the absence of virus movement to the salivary glands. Hence, careful consideration must be given to assays that detect viral replication in different thrips species in determining if a thrips species is competent to transmit a specific tospovirus.