Indian Journal of Virology

Of more than twelve tospovirus species described to date, three occur in the United States. These are Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) and Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV). TSWV has been a production constraint in peanut (groundnut), tobacco, tomato and pepper in the southeastern US. Extensive research resulted in the development of practical and effective management programs to reduce its impact. A risk assessment index for TSWV in peanut was developed which is widely adopted by growers in Georgia. In case of tobacco, incidence of TSWV was found to be significantly reduced by applications of imidacloprid and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM). TSWV resistant varieties of tomato and pepper are commercially available. INSV has been primarily a pathogen of ornamentals though it was found in peanut and in greenhouse-grown pepper. A combination of sound production practices including sanitation and thrips control can reduce the incidence of INSV in greenhouse operations. IYSV is the most recently reported tospovirus in the US. Initially confined to onion crops in southern Idaho for over a decade, the virus has rapidly spread to several states in the western US in the past four years and is an economically important pathogen of onion in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. There are limited control options to manage this virus at the moment. Thrips management and use of SAR-inducers such as ASM and host plant resistance. While thrips-borne topsoviruses continue to present challenges to crop production, significant progress has been made in reducing their impact.