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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388737
Research Project: Epidemiology, Vector-Host Plant Interactions, and Biology of Vegetable and Cucurbit Viruses

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: First report of impatiens necrotic spot virus infecting lettuce in Arizona and southern desert regions of California

Author
item Hasegawa, Daniel
item Hladky, Laura
item Wintermantel, William - Bill
item PUTMAN, ALEXANDER - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item BARMAN, APURBA - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item SLINSKI, STEPHANIE - University Of Arizona
item PALUMBO, JOHN - University Of Arizona
item POUDEL-WARD, BINDU - University Of Arizona

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2022
Publication Date: 6/29/2022
Citation: Hasegawa, D.K., Hladky, L.L., Wintermantel, W.M., Putman, A., Barman, A., Slinski, S., Palumbo, J., Poudel-Ward, B. 2022. First report of impatiens necrotic spot virus infecting lettuce in Arizona and southern desert regions of California. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-21-2118-PDN.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-21-2118-PDN

Interpretive Summary: In the United States, lettuce is a high-value leafy green vegetable, with over 90% of production occurring in California (CA) and Arizona (AZ). Primary production regions include the Central Coast of CA between January and September and the southern desert regions of CA and AZ between September and April. Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) is transmitted by insects commonly referred to as, thrips. The virus can infect a wide range of ornamental and vegetable crops and was first reported to infect lettuce on the Central Coast of California (Monterey County) in 2006. Since then, the virus has continued to impact lettuce production in the region, with increasing severity and incidence in recent years. In March 2021, symptoms resembling those caused by INSV infection in lettuce fields were observed in southern desert regions of AZ and CA. Symptomatic plants were tested using serological and genetic tests to confirm the presence of INSV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of INSV infecting lettuce in the southern desert regions of Arizona and California. Proactive efforts are underway to monitor and manage the emergence of this virus in the region.

Technical Abstract: Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV; family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus) is a thrips-borne pathogen that infects a wide range of ornamental and vegetable crops. INSV was first reported in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in the Salinas Valley of CA (Monterey County) in 2006. Since then, the pathogen has continued to impact lettuce production in the region, with increasing severity and incidence in recent years. In March 2021, symptoms resembling those caused by INSV infection were observed in lettuce fields in southern desert regions of AZ and CA. Symptomatic plants were sampled and validated for the presence of INSV using Immunostrips and RT-PCR. Further sequencing of a 524 bp region of the N gene of the INSV S RNA further confirmed the presence of INSV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Impatiens necrotic spot virus infecting lettuce in the southern desert regions of Arizona and California.