Reduction in productivity of soybean plants infested with Neohyadatothrips variabilis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with and without soybean vein necrosis virus

Authors: Lagos-Kutz, Doris; PAWLOWSKI, MICHELLE - Bayer Cropscience; HAN, JAEYEONG - University Of Illinois; Clough, Steven; Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Phytoparasitica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2023
Publication Date: 3/24/2023
Citation: Lagos-Kutz, D.M., Pawlowski, M.L., Han, J., Clough, S.J., Hartman, G.L. 2023. Reduction in productivity of soybean plants infested with Neohyadatothrips variabilis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with and without soybean vein necrosis virus. Phytoparasitica. 51:437-445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-023-01070-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-023-01070-1

Interpretive Summary: In this manuscript we are reporting the effect on soybean productivity (plant height, number of seeds, and seed weight) and plant resistance to thrips. Soybean thrips are found throughout the USA and Canada and are the primary vector of Soybean Vein Necrosis Virus (SVNV), a newly discovered plant virus. We investigated the degree of infestation at different vegetative growth stages with thrips carrying SVNV or not. We found significant reduction in plant height, number of seeds, and seed weight when plants were infested with soybean thrips free of SVNV at earlier versus later vegetative stages, and these negative effects were more dramatic when plants were infested with soybean thrips infected with SVNV. The goal of this report is to bring awareness to the scientific and extension community of the effect of SVNV on soybean productivity, and to present results of plant host resistance screens.

Technical Abstract: Soybean thrips, Neohyadatothrips variabilis (Beach), the primer vector of Soybean Vein Necrosis Virus (SVNV), has been recognized as a widespread virus of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in USA and Canada. Several experiments in controlled conditions investigated soybean plant growth stage when infested with thrips without and with SVNV. Experiment 1 compared soybean infested at V1 and V5 growth stages (GS) with thrips without SVNV and not infested plants (controls). For plants infested at GS V1, plant height, number of seeds, and seed weights were reduced by 50, 80, and 75%, respectively. Experiment 2 compared soybean infested at V1 and V5 GSs with SVNV-infected thrips and control plants. For plants infested at GS V1, plant height was reduced 77.8% compared to the control, and plants died before setting pods. For plants infested at GS V5, height, number of seeds, and seed weights were reduced 56, 78, and 92%, respectively. Experiment 3, five soybean genotypes were infested with SVNV-infected soybean thrips at GS V1. Number and weight of seeds per plant were lower for LD12-12734a, Williamsfield Illini 3509N, and plant introduction (PI) 417136 than PI 171451 and cv. Merschman Kennedy.