Thrips’ population and TSWV virus incidence and efficacy were followed in test plots throughout counties in eastern North Carolina during the 2004 and 2005 field seasons. Varieties were selected from ongoing advanced line tests. Thrips population size was monitored and rated by a combination of in field scouting and examining leaves under magnification in the laboratory. Virus incidence was monitored by visual scouting verified by a TSWV ImmunoStrip test (agdia ISK 39300). Once a plant was found to be infected it was rated on its level of symptoms and monitored until harvest noting any change in expression. Virus incidence and efficacy varied widely among varieties. High early season thrips populations did not always correlate to higher virus incidence. Some varieties did not express symptoms until very late in the season, others yielded a higher than expected number of asymptomatic infected plants that were not detected until root sampling