Acquisition of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus by Frankliniella occidentalis
Studies in Hawaii, US, revealed that adults of Frankliniella occidentalis (EPPO A2 pest) are unable to acquire tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (potential EPPO A2 organism) and to vector it to host plants. Ultrastructural and serological analyses showed that a midgut barrier to TSWV is responsible for this inability. Ingested TSWV particels are apparently degraded or altered in the midgut lumen and/or epithelial cells. TSWV can only be aquired by larvae which feed on infected plant material, and then persists through adulthood.
Sources
Ullman, D.E.; Cho, J.J.; Mau, R.F.L.; Westcot, D.M.; Custer, D.M. (1992) A midgut barrier to tomato spotted wilt virus acquisition by adult Western flower thrips.
Phytopathology 82, 1333-1342.