Survey on tomato spotted wilt tospovirus on ornamentals in Greece
In Greece, tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was first found in 1972 in tobacco and remained for a long period limited to this crop. But soon after the introduction of Frankliniella occidentalis (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) infections were reported on vegetable and ornamental crops (see EPPO RS 97/140). At present, tomato spotted wilt tospovirus is widespread in many areas in Greece, and it infects economically important crops such as tomato, capsicum, lettuce and tobacco. A recent survey was carried out on ornamental crops. Samples were collected both in outdoor and protected crops, from the following areas: Drama, Thessaloniki, Katerini, Xanthis, Chalkidiki, Kilkis and Crete. Plant samples were tested by DAS-ELISA for the presence of tomato spotted wilt and impatiens necrotic spot tospoviruses and positive results were confirmed by mechanical inoculation to indicator plants. During this survey, no infection of impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus was found. Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus was detected in 42 plant species (40 genera in 27 families). The highest infection levels were found in Dendranthema. The following species are reported for the first time as host plants of the virus: Beloperone guttata, Coleus barbatus, Impatiens petersiana and Lilium auratum. Begonia, Catharanthus roseus, Celosia cristata, Dianthus chinensis, Fuchsia and Stephanotis floribunda are found a new hosts in Greece. Thrips collected from infected plants were in most cases Frankliniella occidentalis, although Thrips tabaci was identified from infected Dendranthema and Dianthus caryophyllus plants.
Sources
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Chatzivassiliou, E.K.; Livieratos, I.; Jenser, G.; Katis, N.I. (2000) Ornamental plants and thrips populations associated with tomato spotted wilt tospovirus in Greece.
Phytoparasitica, 28(3), 257-264.
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