Effects of Temperature on Infection in Capsicum sp. and Nicotiana benthamiana by Impatiens Necrotic Spot Tospovirus

Infection by two isolates of impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus (INSV) under temperature regimes of 25/18°C (day/night) or 33°C (continuous) was studied in Capsicum annuum (systemically susceptible to tomato spotted wilt tospovirus, TSWV), C. chinense PI 152225 and PI 159236 (reacting hypersensitively to TSWV) and Nicotiana benthamiana (systemically susceptible to both tospoviruses). At 25/18°C infection was systemic in all hosts tested. At 33°C infection in N. benthamiana was systemic whereas in C. annuum and C. chinense it was restricted to the inoculated leaves. The result differed from that reported for TSWV, where high temperature made plants more susceptible, or caused no difference. Exchanging temperature regimes 6h to 4 days after inoculation did not affect the final results one month later, with plants being only locally infected at 33°C continuous regime, or systemically infected at 25/18°C alternate regime. The two INSV isolates were biologically and serologically stable for 5 passages in N. benthamiana held continuously at 33°C.