Seasonal development
and life cycle—Spotted wilt virus
Spotted wilt virus is transmitted by various species of thrips. Once thrips nymphs acquire the virus
by feeding on infected plants, they will retain the ability to transmit it for the remainder of their
lives. Spotted wilt virus can be passed from infected females through the eggs to her offspring. In addition
to infecting its insect vectors, spotted wilt has an extremely wide host range among plants, including
many weeds as well as crop hosts such as peppers and tomatoes. It is one of the few plant viruses whose
host range includes broadleaf and grassy plants (including onions). Although the virus is extremely widespread
and is very damaging in greenhouses on ornamentals, it generally causes few losses in garden crops.
|
Tomatoes
are affected by spotted wilt virus |
