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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419193
Research Project: Biological and Biotechnological Approaches for Management of Insect Vectors and Vector-borne Viruses Affecting Vegetable Crops

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Epidemiology and economic impact of Impatiens necrotic spot virus: A re-emerging orthotospovirus in the Salinas Valley of California

Author
item Hasegawa, Daniel
item DEL-POZO, ALEJANDRO - Virginia Tech
item SMITH, RICHARD - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item Hladky, Laura

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Salinas Valley of California produces over 70% of all United States lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and is valued annually at over $1 billion USD. Over the last five years, Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV; Order Bunyavirales, Family Tospoviridae) has emerged as a primary concern for the industry, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. While INSV resistant lettuce cultivars remain largely unavailable, chemical control tactics to manage the thrips vector, Frankliniella occidentalis have been ineffective in preventing disease outbreaks. As a first step towards understanding the patterns of recent INSV epidemics, we used Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs (SADIE) to characterize the distribution and progression of INSV outbreaks and thrips infestations in commercial lettuce fields. Over the course of 7 weeks, INSV incidence rapidly increased from ~15% to ~80% in two fields and aggregated at specific fields edges as early as 3 weeks after planting (Ia = 1.63, Pa = 0.0100, and Ia = 1.53, Pa = 0.0300). However, in contrast, thrips were inconsistently abundant in areas that experienced the most INSV. Overall, INSV accounted for over $475,000 in losses in the two fields, while industry surveys documented over 1,000 fields that experienced INSV during the 2022 season alone. Here, we describe how the work highlights fundamental challenges that are associated with managing the vector and virus. We will also discuss other ongoing coordinated efforts that aim to improve the management of the thrips and INSV in the Salinas Valley of California.