1Division of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hessaraghatta Lake (PO), Bangalore-560089.
2Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hessaraghatta Lake (PO), Bangalore-560089.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the 16th Annual Convention and International Symposium of Indian Virological Society on “Management of Vector-Borne Viruses” at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru-502324, Hyderabad, India, February 7–10, 2006.
Thrips are important pests of wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. Thrips show a high degree of similarity particularly at immature stages, which make identification extremely difficult. Further lack of conventional taxonomic tools for identification of immature stages, availability of specialized taxonomists when and where needed could hamper timely identification. One of the main difficulties in the management of the thrips vector lies in the correct identification of the vector species and occurrence of biotypes/host races. Identification of thrips vectors at the immature stage is advantageous for early control measures. In the scenario molecular tools can effectively be employed for the correct and timely identification of the thrips vectors at any developmental stages. Among various plant viruses, tospoviruses are exclusively transmitted by several species of thrips, where only the larval stages effectively acquire and the adults transmit. Thus the virus infection and spread are closely linked with the development of thrips species. Of the 5500 species of thrips only 11 species are reported to be vectors worldwide. In India there are four reported tospovirus vectors viz. T. tabaci, T. palmi, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Frankliniella schultzei, which transmit diseases to tomato, watermelon, chillies. Therefore the molecular differences in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene for T. tabaci and T. palmi is presented in this communication.
