Virus status of western flower thrips (<i>Frankliniella occidentalis</i>) does not affect their response to a thrips lure or host plant volatiles in a Ytube olfactometer

Abstract

The impact of tospovirus infection on the behaviour of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) was evaluated in a Ytube olfactometer The response of female western flower thrips with or without a tospovirus (Tomato spotted wilt virus TSWV) to a thrips lure (methyl isonicotinate MI) and chrysanthemum buds was recorded Compared to the blank arm significantly more thrips chose the odourladen arm of the Ytube when it contained MI (65 P<001) However chrysanthemum buds did not significantly (P>016) increase the percentage of thrips that chose the odourladen arm over and above the cleanair arm but thrips (virusfree and infected) moved more quickly to the end of either arm when a bud was present The virus status of thrips was confirmed with RTPCR The presence of the virus in the vector did not substantially affect the behavioural response of the vector to a lure or hostplant material (P>04)