TSWV in Chrysanthemum

A greenhouse-grown chrysanthemum was received in the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic on July 10th and diagnosed with Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) by Emma Lookabaugh. Symptoms consisted of dark leaf spots, lateral curling of the leaves at some of the spots, and at least one stem lesion.

TSWV symptoms on Chrysanthemum

Although TSWV is the most commonly diagnosed viral disease here in the PDIC, it has been a long time since we've detected it on chrysanthemum from North Carolina. We have no records of it during the current millennium, but if memory serves there was at least one case back in the late 1990s. The current case does not constitute an outbreak, but should serve as a reminder to growers to take measures to prevent this disease.

A different sort of TSWV symptom on mum, from a different sample.

Tomato spotted wilt occurs on hundreds of field and crops, including peanut, tobacco, tomato, pepper, and potato, as well as on a wide range of ornamentals. In the last 6-1/2 years we have diagnosed it on the following ornamentals from commercial sources: African marigold, angel-wing begonia, calla lily, Cyclamen, Gaillardia, Gerbera, Senecio confusus, Lisianthus, Lobelia, Madagascar periwinkle, Sedum, and Stoke's aster. Its sister virus, INSV, is a frequent problem on many ornamentals.

Mottling and ringspot symptoms on TSWV-infected Senecio (left) and Stokesia (right)

Both TSWV and INSV can cause a wide range of symptoms, including mottling, ringspots, stunting, and necrotic leaf and stem lesions. Both are members of the genus Tospovirus and are transmitted by minute insects called thrips*. One curious fact about this transmission is that the virus is acquired by the insect during its larval development, but then the insect itself becomes permanently infected. Of course the virus can be brought into a greenhouse with infected plants, and could be perpetuated through vegetative propagation.

A thrips compared to the tip of a pin.

These strategies against TSWV (and INSV) are recommended for greenhouse flower production:

• Avoid growing vegetable transplants and flowers in the same greenhouse, and avoid growing plants of different ages together.
• Screen greenhouse vents and air intakes to exclude thrips from entering the greenhouse.
• Control weeds in and around the greenhouse. Many weeds are susceptible to tospoviruses and can serve as reservoirs of virus and thrips.
• Monitor greenhouses for thrips activity using blue or yellow sticky cards, with the top 2/3 of the card placed above the plant tops.  Use two cards per 5000 sq. ft. of greenhouse area.
• Use insecticides to manage thrips populations when necessary. Remove flowers from plants before treatment since the interior of flowers rarely get adequate coverage. It is important to note that some thrips populations have developed insensitivity to commonly used insecticides. In addition, no insecticide can completely eliminate thrips. Utilize the most effective chemistries wisely by rotating insecticides by mode of action (IRAC class) with each application, or at least with every generation of thrips. Always follow label directions and check that products are labeled for the intended crop. Details on insecticides for thrips management can be found in the NCSU Information Note on Western flower thrips and the University of Florida's thrips management information.

TSWV symptoms on Lobelia

If you suspect you have infected plants, we recommend having the diagnosis confirmed by a laboratory. Large growers with recurring problems may want to keep a supply of the simple lateral-flow ELISA tests on hand. Suppliers** include AC Diagnostics and Agdia. There is no cure, so all infected plants must be removed and destroyed. The potting mix of these plants should also be discarded, as this is where the thrips vectors pupate. Eliminate old stock plants as these are often sources of thrips and viruses.

More information about TSWV in the following crops is also available:
- peanut 
- tobacco
- tomato

Mike Munster and Steve Frank

*Grammatical footnote: The word thrips is both singular and plural.
**Mention of trade names and companies does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University or the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic.

Sample of the Week: TSWV on Tomato

TSWV symptoms (Photo: Mike Munster)

This week's sample of the week was TSWV (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus) on greenhouse tomato plants.  We received two tomato plants with black, necrotic spots on the foliage, a symptom associated with TSWV.  An ELISA immunostrip test confirmed this diagnosis.  We were a little surprised to see TSWV so early in the greenhouse.  Early infections usually have the most severe impact on yield because they prevent flowering and fruit set. The virus is spread by thrips and thrips populations in a greenhouse should be eliminated to prevent further spreading of the virus.  Infected plants will not recover and should be removed and destroyed.  

TSWV Symptoms (Photo: Mike Munster)

For more information on TSWV, check out our earlier blog posting here.

Attack of the Killer Tomato (Spotted Wilt Virus)

TSWV fruit symptoms
Photo by F. J. Louws

Lately, we have seen a lot of tomato samples with tomato spotted wilt  (TSWV) come through the clinic.  TSWV is a virus that is spread by at least seven different kinds of tiny insects known as thrips.  It takes only 15 minutes of feeding for a tomato plant to become infected, and once TSWV is acquired, there is no cure.  TSWV is sporadic in nature with heavy disease pressure in some years relatively little disease pressure in others.  Due to this unpredictable nature, and the broad host ranges of thrips, controlling TSWV can severely challenge traditional pest management practices. 

TSWV can be a major problem both in greenhouses and in the field and can affect field crops like tomato, peanut, and pepper, tobacco along with many ornamental plants.  On tomatoes, symptoms may be expressed on leaves, petioles, stems, and fruit.  Early symptoms include cupping and off-colored bronzed foliage.  Later, leaves may show small, dark spots and eventually die.  Dark brown streaks can be seen on stems and petioles.  Plants may be severely stunted and new growth can be deformed.  Sometimes the plant may exhibit one-sided growth.  The tops of the plants may turn yellow and wilt.

TSWV foliar symptoms
Photo by E. C. Lookabaugh

Fruit symptoms are very distinctive.  Immature fruit have mottled, light green rings with raised centers.  Mature fruit has a unique red/orange mottling that can make the fruit unmarketable.

TSWV immature fruit symptoms
Photo by F. J. Louws 

TSWV mature fruit mottling
Photo by E. C. Lookabaugh

In North Carolina, tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca) and western flower thrips (F. occidentalis) are the two most common vectors.   Tobacco thrips are able to spread the virus from nearby weed hosts before they can be killed by insecticides applied to the crop.  Early infections usually result in the greatest impact on yield because early infections can prevent flowering and fruit set.   Secondary spread within fields is very uncommon but may occur by large populations of western flower thrips.  Western flower thrips are extremely difficult to control because they are highly tolerant to insecticides and prefer to reside deep within the blossoms where it is difficult to reach with insecticides.  In addition to spreading TSWV, thrips alone can be damaging to crops because of how they feed.  Thrips feeding causes the collapse of plant cells which leads to deformed plant growth, flower deformation, and silvery areas and flecking on expanded leaves. 

Two common TSWV vectors
Photo UGA

Controlling this disease is very difficult.  In home garden settings, there is usually little secondary spread after the first wave of infections in the spring when virus-bearing thrips are moving from winter weeds to garden plants.  You may wish to remove infected plants, especially those that were infected before fruit set, because they will not recover.

TSWV field symptoms (left plant showing severe stunting)
Photo by F.J. Louws

In a field setting, it is important to manage weeds adjacent to the field because these weeds harbor both the thrips vector and the virus during the winter.  Infected plants should be removed and destroyed as soon as symptoms appear.  TSWV resistant varieties are available and can be effective.  Organic growers and other larger acreage growers may want to consider reflective mulches to cover their beds rather tha the traditional black mulch.  In greenhouses, thrips populations should be eliminated so they, along with TSWV, are not spread to the field when seedlings are transplanted.  

More information on managing this disease can be found here, under "Viral Diseases"

Special thanks to Dr. Louws for helping put together this post and for supplying images!