Reduction of Tomato spotted wilt virus on Table Tomatoes in Greenhouses by Soil Fumigation

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has occurred on fields annually disease occurrence rates were 73.3% in 2005, 53.3% in 2006 and 41.6% in 2007 at Anyang area in Gyeonggi Province. Seasonal occurrence pattern of TSWV showed a dramatic increase from 8.7% in late May to 30.1 % in early June in 2007 at Anyang area, coincided with the high population of a thrip, Frank-liniella occidentalis at that time. The rate of viruliferous thrips with TSWV on lettuce and red pepper was 20.2% and 52.1%, respectively, in greenhouses. Dazomat, soil fumigation pesticide, reduced TSWV disease incidence drastically on table tomato as treatment the chemical into the soil with humidity in early spring in 2006 and 2007. Spraying insecticide periodically after treatment with Dazomat was more effective to control TSWV than spraying if on plants or applying into the soil of the insecticide during growing season. Control efficiency through treatments both of the soil fumigation and of spraying insecticide was significantly high with 85.3% in 2006 and 87.8% in 2007. Removing the potential vector from the soil of TSWV infested area can be an effective strategy for reducing TSWV disease.