Detecting a <i>Tospovirus</i> in trapped thrips

Abstract

Thrips vector tospoviruses which worldwide cause disease epidemics in a wide range of economically important crops Of the approximately 5000 species of thrips 11 are known to vector one or more of the 14 recognised Tospovirus species In New Zealand only three tospoviruses and two vectors have been recorded Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci vector tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) while T tabaci vectors iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) and impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) is vectored primarily by F occidentalis Frankliniella occidentalis is also known to vector three other tospoviruses not yet recorded in New Zealand It was possible to detect the presence of a tospovirus (TSWV) from thrips (F occidentalis) trapped on sticky boards for 24 h and 1 2 3 or 4 weeks using ELISA and RTPCR techniques ELISA provides a rapid and economical screening technique provided antibodies are commercially available for a given tospovirus However the use of RTPCR may allow the development and use of universal primers to detect the presence of any Tospovirus which could then be further identified using specific Tospovirus primers