Transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus from pepper and three weed hosts by Frankliniella fusca

We tested the ability of the tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca) to transmit tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) from bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) and three wild hosts of the virus in Louisiana-spiny-leaved sowthistle (Sonchus asper), wild lettuce (Lactuca floridana), and buttercup (Ranunculus sardous). In experiments with rive thrips per test plant, F. fusca was able to transmit TSWV from all four host species to S. asper and bell pepper test plants. F. fusca was able to reproduce in the laboratory on plants of bell pepper and each of the three weed hosts. These results indicate that F. fusca can acquire TSWV from the three weed species and bell pepper in the field and transmit it to pepper and other hosts