Several species of thrips are reported to vector tomato spotted wilt virus in flue-cured tobacco. This study examined the abundance of thrips in the tobacco farmscape, including the common weed species present, the thrips species on these plants, and the confirmed vectors (ELISA techniques) of spotted wilt. The tobacco thrips, Frankiniella fusca, was the most abundant vector: however, four other thrips species also were confirmed as vectors. Wild radish, narrowleaf vetch, henbit, cutleaf eveningprimrose, curley dock, red sorrell, and common chickweed were confirmed hosts for spotted wilt virus. It appears that the weed hosts in the farmscape are influential as refuge and nutrients for vectors and innoculant source of tomato spotted wilt virus in the flue-cured tobacco farmscape.
Species 1: Thysanoptera Thripidae Frankliniella fusca
Keywords: tobacco thrips, thrips
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