Efficiencies of transmission of Tomato spotted wilt virus by Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella intonsa collected in green bell pepper fields in Oita Prefecture

Abstract

We examined efficiencies of transmission of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) by two thrips species, Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella intonsa collected in green bell pepper fields in Oita Prefecture. Two populations of F occidentalis, Kokuragi and Koshoji, showed different transmission efficiencies (27.5% and 62.0%, respectively). An F. intonsa population collected in Koshoji transmitted the virus with a high efficiency (58.7%). These findings suggest that F. occidentalis and F. intonsa populations with high TSWV transmission efficiencies may play a role in severe epidemics of TSWV in green bell pepper fields in Oita Prefecture.