Effects of Latent Infection of Stock Plants and Abundance of Thrips on the Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato spotted wilt virus </Emphasis>in Chrysanthemum Fields

DAS-ELISA proved to be reliable enough to detect a latent infection by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in asymptomatic stock plants of chrysanthemum. A high density of Frankliniella occidentalis, the predominant vector, in the presence of latently infected stock plants resulted in a high incidence of disease in the chrysanthemum production field. The incidence of disease was low when the vector thrips were not abundant in spite of the presence of latently infected stock plants. These results suggest that an infestation of the vector thrips causes severe secondary spread of TSWV originating from latently infected stock plants in chrysanthemum production fields. Received 27 July 2001/ Accepted in revised form 27 November 2001     

Effectiveness of insecticide-treated and non-treated trap plants for the management of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in greenhouse ornamentals

The effectiveness of trap cropping as an integrated control strategy against western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was explored in potted chrysanthemum, Dendranthema grandiflora (Tzvelev), greenhouse crops. The efficacy of flowering chrysanthemum trap plants, either treated with the insecticide spinosad or untreated, to regulate F. occidentalis populations was tested at different spatial scales (small cage, large cage and commercial greenhouse) and for different time periods (1 or 4 weeks). It was demonstrated that flowering chrysanthemums as trap plants lower the number of adult F. occidentalis in a vegetative chrysanthemum crop and, as a result, reduce crop damage. In the 4 week large-cage trial and the commercial trial, significant differences between the control and the trap plant treatments started to appear in the third week of the experiment. Larvae were only significantly reduced by the presence of trap plants in the 1 week small-cage trials. There were no significant differences between treatments with spinosad-treated and untreated trap plants in the number of F. occidentalis on the crop. This suggests that there was minimal movement of adult F. occidentalis back and forth between the trap plants and the crop to feed and oviposit. It is concluded that the trap plant strategy is a useful tool for integrated pest management against F. occidentalis in greenhouses.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Impatiens necrotic spot virus</Emphasis> infecting chrysanthemum (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum morifolium</Emphasis>) in Japan

In 2009, chlorotic mottle and necrosis were observed on chrysanthemums (cv. Jimba) in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. A virus was isolated from the chrysanthemum plants by serial local-lesion transfer. The symptoms exhibited by the test plants, the particle morphology, the features of the protein and the potential for transmission by thrips were similar to those for Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV). The partial nucleotide sequences of the nucleocapsid protein gene and the 3′-untranslated sequence of the S RNA shared 99% identity with that of an INSV isolate. This report is the first of INSV infection of chrysanthemums in Japan.     

不同花色菊花品种上西花蓟马种群密度及雌雄性比

为明确不同花色菊花品种上西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis发生情况及种群变化规律,利用蓝色粘虫板调查了大棚种植的7种单色(黄色、橙色、白色、绿色、粉色、紫色、红色)以及4种双色(黄绿、黄红、白绿、黄白)菊花品种上不同时期西花蓟马的种群密度及雌雄性比。结果表明,根据四分位法得到西花蓟马的发生早期与菊花苗期重合,主要发生期与菊花开花期重合,发生晚期为切花后生长期。在所有单色菊花品种中,西花蓟马在黄色菊花品种上的种群密度最高,主要发生期虫口密度达19.98头/板;且雌雄性比最大,为5.85,显著高于其它单色菊花品种上的雌雄性比。在所有双色菊花品种中,黄绿菊花品种上的西花蓟马种群密度最高,主要发生期虫口密度达26.89头/板,显著高于其它双色菊花品种上数量,且雌雄性比也最大,为6.87。菊花开花是导致西花蓟马种群迅速上升和种群中雌虫比例迅速增加的主要原因,且西花蓟马偏好为害与黄色花色相关的菊花品种。     

Assessing the susceptibility of chrysanthemum cultivars to tomato spotted wilt virus

Three methods were compared to assess the susceptibility of vegetatively propagated chrysanthemum to tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV): mechanical and thrips-mediated inoculation of whole plants, and a leaf-disc assay. As symptom expression was often poor or even absent, TSWV infections and subsequent susceptibility to TSWV were determined by ELISA. All 15 chrysanthemum cultivars tested were susceptible to TSWV, irrespective of their degree of vector resistance (based on feeding-scar damage rates). Thrips-mediated inoculation using different numbers of thrips revealed that 100% infection was obtained when plants were challenged by six thrips per plant, whereas 80 and over 50%, respectively, of the plants became infected when inoculated by a single male or female thrips. However, false negatives were scored even after intensive sampling because of erratic, cultivar-specific and time-dependent virus distribution after inoculation in the plants. Labour-intensive samplings and long incubation periods could be overcome by a readily applicable leaf-disc assay. This assay was as reliable as thrips-mediated inoculation of whole plants, and its use is therefore favoured to assess chrysanthemum cultivars for TSWV susceptibility.     

Acquisition of Tomato spotted wilt virus by Adults of Two Thrips Species

ABSTRACT Only larval thrips that acquire Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), or adults derived from such larvae, transmit the virus. Nonviruliferous adults can ingest virus particles while feeding on TSWV-infected plants, but such adult thrips have not been shown to transmit TSWV. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to show that thrips 1, 5, 10, and 20 days after adult emergence (DAE) fed on TSWV-infected plants acquired TSWV with virus replication and accumulation occurring in both epithelial and muscle cells of Frankliniella fusca (tobacco thrips [TT]) and F. occidentalis (western flower thrips [WFT]), as indicated by immunodetection of the nonstructural (NSs) protein encoded by the small RNA and the nucleocapsid (N) protein, respectively. Adult WFT acquired TSWV more efficiently than TT. There was no significant effect of insect age on TSWV acquisition by TT. In contrast, acquisition by adult WFT at 1 and 5 DAE was higher than acquisition at 10 and 20 DAE. Subsequent transmission competence of adult cohorts was studied by vector transmission assays. All adult thrips tested that had an acquisition access period as an adult were unable to transmit the virus. These results indicate the susceptibility of adult TT and WFT to infection of midgut cells by TSWV and subsequent virus replication and confirm earlier studies that adult thrips that feed on virus-infected plants do not transmit the virus. The role of a tissue barrier in TSWV movement and infection from midgut muscle cells to the salivary glands is discussed.     

Estimation of the effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato spotted wilt virus</Emphasis> (TSWV) infection on some yield components of tomato

The effects of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on yield and quality of tomato fruits were studied from May through November of 2004 at the Experimental Field of the Agricultural Faculty of Ondokuz Mayis University, in Samsun province, Turkey. TSWV caused 42.1% and 95.5% reduction in yield and marketable value of tomato, respectively. TSWV infection in tomato crop caused significant (P < 0.05) reductions in weight, total number, width and length of the fruits in infected plants. Reductions in yield-contributing parameters were 26.61% in weight, 20.18% in number, 10.94% in width and 11.93% in length of fruits. It is difficult to estimate the actual yield loss and influence levels of TSWV in the field. Economic data are scarce, but in the present study it was estimated that the yield loss due to TSWV in tomatoes was approximately $0.9 million in Samsun, Turkey.     

北京地区发现番茄斑萎病毒

通过采用特异快速试纸条以及进一步的RT-PCR和序列测定证实,在北京局部地区的辣椒和茄子上已发生番茄斑萎病毒,这两种作物上同时发生的蓟马种类主要为西花蓟马,并且携带该病毒。番茄斑萎病毒病是极其危险的一种病害,可对作物造成毁灭性灾害。建议有关部门立即采取相应的预防与管理措施,防止其扩散蔓延。     

The proportion of viruliferous individuals in field populations of Frankliniella occidentalis: Implications for tomato spotted wilt virus epidemics in tomato

Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) infected plants and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Perg., WFT) adult population densities were monitored during 1993 and 1994 in field tomatoes in Northeastern Spain. The proportion of viruliferous WFT adults in field populations was quantified. A significant association has been found between early population densities of WFT adult thrips and final TSWV incidence for early transplanted tomato crops. In contrast, for late transplanted tomato crops, whereas similar high final disease incidences of TSWV could be attained, very low WFT adult population densities were always detected. The significantly higher infectious potential of WFT populations collected during the early growth stages of late transplanted tomatoes could be relevant for the TSWV incidences attained in spite of the low thrips numbers detected.     

Characterization of a vector-non-transmissible isolate of Tomato spotted wilt virus

The characteristics of a thrips‐non‐transmissible isolate of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), designated TSWV‐M, were compared with those of a thrips‐transmissible isolate, designated TSWV‐T. TSWV‐M showed a narrower host range than TSWV‐T. Adult thrips failed to transmit TSWV‐M, although the vector acquired the virus during the larval stages. TSWV‐M was detected by RT‐PCR in adult thrips bodies, but not in thrips heads, suggesting that loss of thrips transmissibility was the result of the absence of virus in adult thrips salivary glands. Whereas N (nucleoprotein), NSs (non‐structural protein) and G_C (the C‐terminal portion of the glycoprotein precursor protein) were present in similar amounts in leaf tissue from TSWV‐M‐ or TSWV‐T‐infected plants, G_N (the N‐terminal portion of the glycoprotein precursor protein) was present at much lower amounts in TSWV‐M‐ than in TSWV‐T‐infected plants. SDS‐PAGE and immunoblotting analysis of TSWV‐M and TSWV‐T virion preparations with G_N‐ and G_C‐specific antibodies revealed similar amounts of the G_N and G_C glycoproteins in TSWV‐T virions, but lower amounts of G_N than G_C in TSWV‐M virions. This resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the G_N/G_C ratio in TSWV‐M virions. In affinoblots, the G_C and G_N glycoproteins of TSWV‐M exhibited weak binding with lectins showing affinity for N‐linked oligosaccharide structures. Sequence analysis of M RNA (medium segment of the TSMV genome) revealed no deletions or frameshift mutations in the G_N/G_C precursor of TSWV‐M. However, five amino acid changes were detected in the G_N/G_C precursor. A single, relatively conservative amino acid substitution (V→I) was observed in the NSm protein. Sequence analysis of S RNA (small portion of the TSMV genome) revealed a large intergenic region with no changes in the N protein and with three amino acid changes in the NSs protein.     

Role of weed hosts and the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, in epidemiology of Tomato spotted wilt virus in the Çukurova region of Turkey

Surveys of thrips and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on weeds were conducted in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey during the years 2004–2006. Thrips species were collected by vigorously shaking weedy plants into a white container for 15 sec. Plant material collected during field surveys and plants which were used for mechanical inoculation of TSWV, were tested by DAS–ELISA. The weed species Ranunculus muricatus, Melilotus officinalis, Sinapis arvensis and Portulaca oleracea were used for the virus transmission experiments in an enclosed high plastic tunnel and in cage experiments. Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentlis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was the most common thrips, inhabiting 80 of the 82 weed species sampled. Adults of F. occidentalis and thrips larvae were significantly more abundant on S. arvensis than on the other weed species sampled (P<0.05). Adult and larval thrips showed peak densities on most weeds in April or May. Summer annual weeds were not good hosts for reproduction of the thrips. A total of 90 samples from 17 plant species belonging to 11 plant families were ELISA positive for TSWV. No TSWV was detected on 65 weed species belonging to 26 plant families. High numbers of plant samples infected by TSWV were obtained in P. oleracea (21 samples) and in R. muricatus (15 samples). In field surveys symptoms of TSWV were detected on only R. muricatus. Incidence of the TSWV on weeds ranged between 5% and 25%. Transmission rates of TSWV by F. occidentalis to the weeds ranged from 33% to 83% in the pepper plastic tunnel and cage experiments.     

Resistance response of the tomato rootstock SC 6301 to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne javanica</Emphasis> in a plastic house

Nematode reproduction on the nematode-susceptible tomato cv. Durinta grafted onto the Mi-resistance gene tomato rootstock SC 6301 was compared to the Mi-resistance gene tomato cv. Monika in a plastic house infested with Meloidogyne javanica. The ungrafted susceptible cv. Durinta was included as a control for reference. Final soil population densities were lower (P ≤ 0.05) on the resistant than susceptible cultivar but intermediate values were recorded on the rootstock SC 6301. The lowest numbers of eggs per gram root were recorded on the resistant cultivar followed by those on the rootstock; in both cases, they were lower (P < 0.05) than on the susceptible control. Cumulative yield (kilogram per square meter) was higher (P < 0.05) on the resistant than susceptible cultivar whether or not it had been grafted. The rootstock SC 6301 provided an intermediate resistance response to M. javanica and was less effective than the resistant cultivar in suppressing nematode populations and plant damage under the experimental conditions of this study.     

Two years of trials with biological control programmes in all -year-round chrysanthemums1

In trials conducted in 1989 and 1990 in Kent and Worcestershire (England), an IPM programme for the range of pests of chrysanthemums was evaluated. The main target pest was Frankliniella occidentalis but biocontrols for Trialeurodes vaporariorum, aphids (mainly Myzus persicae) and Tetranychus urticae were also used. Anthocoris nemorum adults and nymphs collected from the wild gave good control of F. occidentalis in Kent in 1989 at the rate of 1 per 10 m₂ per week. In 1990 trials, A. nemorum also gave good thrips control at 1 per 20 m₂ per week, providing that thrips numbers were low at the start of the trial. Anthocorids also preyed on aphids, spider mites and whitefly scales. Lygocoris pabulinus was not affected by A. nemorum and caused some flower damage in the IPM trial. In the 1990 trial in Worcestershire, a combination of Verticillium lecanii (Mycotal) weekly sprays at 1 g litre^?1 of water and Neoseiulus cucumeris predators applied weekly at 50 per m₂ also gave good control of F. occidentalis. Conditions for the use of Mycotal were excellent, with humidity in the crop normally above 85% once the blackout screens were drawn. The effect of Mycotal was seen within 2 weeks on the whitefly population, as many infected adults and scales were found. No infected thrips were seen at any time, but it is thought that the Mycotal did have a significant effect upon the thrips population. N. cucumeris (Thripex-Koppert) did not establish well on chrysanthemums when applied in bran from a shaker bottle. However, this predator may establish in larger numbers when slow-release bags are used. Further work on this aspect is needed. The commercial availability of predatory bugs such as anthocorids or Orius spp. would undoubtedly increase the uptake of IPM methods by growers.     

Root and stem rot of chrysanthemum caused by five <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> species in Japan

Root and stem rot with wilt of above ground parts of cultivated chrysanthemums was first found in Ibaraki, Toyama and Kagawa prefectures, Japan in 2002 and 2003. Pythium species were isolated from the diseased tissues and identified as P. dissotocum, P. oedochilum, P. sylvaticum, P. ultimum var. ultimum and asexual strains of P. helicoides based on their morphologies and sequences of rDNA-ITS region. All the Pythium species were strongly pathogenic to chrysanthemums in pot conditions and were reisolated from the inoculated plants. Because Pythium root and stem rot of chrysanthemum has never been reported in Japan, we propose that this is a new disease that can be caused by the five Pythium species.     

A Review on Options for Management of Cowpea Pests: Experiences From Uganda

More than 100 field pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) can be found in most of the crop production agroecologies in Africa, but four of these – aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch), flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom), the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata Fab. Syn. Maruca testulalis Geyer) and pod sucking bugs – are commonly encountered and are of economic importance in Uganda. The diverse cowpea pest complex dictates that a single control strategy is unlikely to produce satisfactory control.Earlier field studies done in eastern and northern parts of Uganda demonstrated that close spacing (30 × 20cm) effectively reduces aphid infestation (early season pest) but seems to promote thrips, legume pod borers and pod bugs infestation. The other option for management of early season pests and nematodes is seed dressing, especially with carbofuran (Furadan 5G). Late season pests are more effectively controlled by the use of foliar sprays, the type of pesticide depending on the pest profile. Intercropping also offers remedial control, but the crop combination must consider the pest profile, cowpea/sorghum intercrop being effective against aphids and thrips, and cowpea/greengram against legume pod borers and pod sucking bugs. Selected combinations of agronomic, chemical and cultural control measures (Integrated Pest Management), especially when combined with early planting, offer better management options than the use of sole treatments. The success of these packages is highly dependent on the degree and level of farmer involvement and to what extent they are tailored to meet his/her production goals.     

Mechanisms conferring resistance of Western flower thrips to bendiocarb

Mechanisms associated with bendiocarb resistance were examined in two strains of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), that differed in their susceptibility to this carbamate by 13.6-fold. No appreciable differences between the two strains in [¹⁴C] bendiocarb penetration and excretion were detected; however, bendiocarb was metabolised substantially faster by the resistant KCM thrips than by the more susceptible UMC thrips. No appreciable difference between the two strains was found in the sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase activity to inhibition by bendiocarb. It was concluded that bendiocarb resistance in KCM western flower thrips was due to enhanced metabolism that probably was mainly oxidative in nature.     

Molecular and biological characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus</Emphasis> isolates from distinct regions in Japan

Three isolates of Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV) were obtained from chrysanthemum plants in distinct regions of Japan in 2006 and 2007. All the original host plants showed severe necrotic symptoms on the leaves and stems. Amino acid sequence data of the nucleocapsid protein genes of the three isolates (CbCh07A, TcCh07A, and GnCh07S) showed high identities with those of two other CSNV isolates, HiCh06A L1 from Japan and Chry1 from Brazil. Furthermore, for the first time the complete nucleotide sequence of the S RNA was determined for CSNV (isolate HiCh06A). In phylogenetic analysis based on the non-structural protein genes from the genus Tospovirus, HiCh06A L1 was placed in the same genetic group as Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Impatiens necrotic spot virus. Host range examination for isolates HiCh06A L1 and CbCh07A showed that green pepper (cv. ‘Kyoyutaka’, ‘Saitamawase’, ‘Tosakatsura’, ‘L3 sarara’ and ‘L3 miogi’) and tomato (cv. ‘Sekaiichitomato’) were systemically susceptible hosts, whereas TSWV-resistant Solanaceae species, Capsicum chinense, Lycopersicon peruvianum and a TSWV-resistant cultivar of green pepper (cv. TSR miogi), were resistant.     

Ray speck of chrysanthemum caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stemphylium lycopersici</Emphasis> in Japan

A new disease of chrysanthemum causing ray speck was found in Okinoerabu island, Kagoshima, Japan in March 2006. Small reddish-brown lesions were observed on the ray florets of the chrysanthemum (cv. Anastasia). The causal fungus was exclusively isolated from the lesions, and typical symptoms were reproduced after inoculation with the isolate. The causal fungus was identified as Stemphylium lycopersici (Enjoji) Yamamoto based on morphology and the sequences of rDNA-ITS and the gpd gene regions. The name, “sho-hanten-byo”, in Japanese is proposed for this ray speck disease.     

Transmissibility of four tospoviruses by a thelytokous population ofThrips tabaci from Liguria, Northwestern Italy

Studies were carried out on a population ofThrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripi-dae) from Liguria to assess its sex-ratio and its ability to transmit four tospoviruses: tomato spotted wilt (TSWV), impatiens necrotic spot, tomato chlorotic spot and groundnut ringspot. The population was composed of females only (therefore thelytokous). The first instar larvae were allowed to acquire the virus for 48 h on infected leaves of datura, basil or pepper, and then reared on cucumber until emergence, which medially occurred 9.5 days after hatching. Transmission capacity was checked using two inoculation access periods (lAPs) of 48 h each on pepper leaf disks.T. tabaci was able to transmit TSWV isolate P105 with an efficiency of 16.7% and 4.4% in the first and second IAP, respectively, and TSWV isolate BR-01 with an efficiency of 2.0%. The onion thrips did not transmit the three other tospoviruses. During the IAPs, almost all adults fed on the leaf disks, producing evident silvery scars. The presence of tospovirus nucleocapsids in thrips was assayed by Triple Antibody Sandwich (TAS) and cocktail ELISA. Not all adults that had transmitted TSWV were positive in the tests, whereas some non-transmitter individuals proved positive. For each of the other tospoviruses, some thrips were positive in at least one test, although none was able to transmit the virus.     

Biological control of the Western flower thripsFrankliniella occidentalis in cucumber using the entomopathogenic fungusMetarhizium anisopliae

Biological control of the western flower thrips (WFT)Frankliniella occidentalis, using the entomopathogenicMetarhizium anisopliae-7 (M. a-7) strain was studied in three consecutive seasons under greenhouse conditions. Cucumber plants infested with WFT were sprayed with spore suspension of the fungusM. a-7 (0.5 g m^-2), or the soil was treated with dry powder of the fungus (0.5 g m^-2); the control was without fungus application. In the 1997 spring experiment, when the cucumber plants were initially infested with only three or four insects per leaf, the spore suspension spray caused a significant reduction in growth of the thrips population compared with the other treatments and the control. However, in the 1997 summer experiment, when the plants were initially heavily infested with WFT (10–15 insects per leaf), the spray treatment caused only a modest reduction in WFT population growth, and only after 4 weeks of treatment was the reduction significant. In the 1999 experiment, with a low initial WFT population of three or four insects per leaf, the spray treatment was effective in reducing the population growth to a lower level than in the other treatments or control. TheM. a-7 strain was found to be effective in reducing the population growth of WFT under greenhouse conditions, particularly when the initial thrips population was low to moderate. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 4, 2001.