Scientist University of Florida Homestead, Florida
The South Florida tomato industry has been severely affected by Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV). Western flower thrips and common blossom thrips are known to vector TCSV. However, at the time of TCSV outbreak in Florida, we also reported the presence of melon thrips on tomatoes. Therefore, we speculated that melon thrips could be a vector of TCSV. Keeping this in view, the present study was undertaken to identify whether melon thrips is a vector of TCSV. To confirm the potential of melon thrips in vectoring we collected the TCSV-infected tomato leaves from the field. The presence of a TCSV-specific band of 950 bp on 2% agarose gel and orthotospovirus-specific band on immunostrip confirmed the presence of TCSV in the tomato leaves. Thereafter, the first instar larvae of melon thrips were released on the positive leaf for virus acquisition for 24 hrs. The virus acquisition in the larvae was confirmed by PCR with TSCV-specific primers. The PCR assay showed a TCSV-specific band of 950 bp on 2% agarose gel. The TCSV-acquired larvae were released on healthy cucumber leaves for the development of adults. These adults were checked for the presence of TCSV in PCR assay and were also used for virus transmission in healthy tomatoes. We did not observe any TCSV-specific band in melon thrips adults and no virus transmission was observed in healthy tomatoes. This confirms that melon thrips is not a vector of TCSV.