Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a highly destructive spherical RNA virus affecting over 1000 plant species, primarily damaging crops like tomatoes and peppers. First identified in 1919, TSWV is transmitted by thrips and can significantly reduce yield and quality of infected plants. Managing TSWV is challenging due to its wide host range, multiple vectors, and the potential for new strains to evolve, necessitating integrated control strategies including cultural and chemical practices.

1. PAT301. Diseases of field and
horticultural crops and their
management (1+1)🍅
Tomato spotted wilt
virus

2. INTRODUCTION
• Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a spherical shaped RNA
virus. It is one of the 10 most economical destructive plant
viruses
• Also called as Orthotospo virus
• The host range of TSWV is Over 1000 species iof 85 families.
• Common hosts:
. Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, celery, eggplant, peanuts,
lettuce, pineapple, cucurbits (melons, squash, cucumbers,
etc.), many legumes, many ornamentals, and weeds such as
field bindweed and curly dock

3. History
• This virus disease firstly identified in 1919 at Australia.
• The disease decreased in prevalence between the 1940s
• In 1940s to 1980s this disease caused heavy yield loss in
tomato at USA and Hawaii.
• .The worldwide spread of the western flower thrips
(Frankliniella occidentalis), an efficient TSWVvector, from
the westernpart of the USA during the 1980s has certainly
played an important role in TSWV emergence.

4. Classification
Kingdom - Orthornavirae
Phylum - Negarnaviricota
Class - Ellioviricetes
Order. - Bunyavirales
Familly - Tospoviridae
Genus. - Tospovirus

5. Symptoms
• Stunting is a common symptom of TSWV infection, and is
generally more severe when young plants are infected .
• Chlorotic or necrotic rings form on the leaves of many infected
hosts , and may also appear on the fruits of some hosts .
• Necrosis may develop in the foliage of some hosts,. Although
TSWV is not seed transmitted, it may cause discoloration of
seed produced on infected hosts . Hence, tomato spotted wilt
may affect both the quantity and quality of plant products.
• Additionally, movement of infected plant material may result in
TSWV being introduced into a new setting.

7. Pathogen
• It is a spherical shaped single stranded RNA virus
• Size 80-110 nm In diameter
• It has 3 RNA’s inside the viral envelope which differ in and
size and are called Large, medium, small.
• Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips, is
considered to be the most important vector species
because it is globally distributed and can transmit most
tospoviruses

8. Disease Transmission
• TSWV is transmitted from infected plants to
healthy plants by at least ten species of thrips.
• Thrips are tiny winged insects that feed on
plants through sucking mouthparts.
• Thrips transmit the virus in a persistent
propagative manner, which means that once the
insect has picked up the virus, the virus replicates
within the insect and the insect is able to transmit
the virus for the remainder of its life.

9. Challenges in controlling Tospo virus diseases
•Broad host range
•Multiple vector species
•Evolution of new strains
•Ability to overcome host plant resistance

10. Disease Management
• Controlling this disease is difficult. The wide host range,
which includes many perennial ornamentals and weeds,
enables the virus to successfully overseason from one
crop to the next.
• Controlling thrips is somewhat more effective in
greenhouse situations. In greenhouses, however,
growers should take care to avoid repeated sprays of
similar insecticides because thrips are able to build up
resistance to commonly used insecticides in a relatively
short time.

11. Cultural practices
• Virus free planting material
• Remove all infected plants.
• Insect control by traps
• Crop rotation
• Use mulching practices
• Check seed sources for new cultivars

12. Chemical practices
•Control of thrips may be obtained with
pyrethroids, carbamates, chlorinated
hydrocarbons, organophosphates, and
soaps.
•Insecticides are most effective when applied
in the morning, when the thrips are most
active and the chance for plant damage is
reduced.